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  • Doctors begin indefinite strike today

    Doctors begin indefinite strike today

    Nigerians doctors have threatened to begin an indefinite strike today.

    Their action may cripple medical services, especially in Federal Government hospitals across the country, if the government fails to placate them.

    The decision to begin the strike followed the alleged refusal of the Federal Government to meet their demands.

    The doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said only the issuance of a circular on their demands for the restoration of sanity in patient care in hospitals would end the strike.

    They might also be joined by the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), which had threatened to join the NMA strike should the government fail to address their demands.

    NMA’s decision to embark on the strike to drive home their 24-point demands was reached at its emergency delegates’ meeting at the weekend.

    The association, earlier in June, gave the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum in an open letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) dated 11th June, with the heading “Minimum End Point for Restoration of Sustainable Sanity in Patient Care in Nigerian Hospitals”.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja on the strike, NMA President Dr. Kayode Obembe said the union’s gentle approach was taken for granted, which made its members to resort to the action.

    Obembe said: “The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted.

    “We have to take this action to save the health care delivery system from imminent anarchy.

    “We hereby appeal to Nigerians for their understanding and to press on the government to meet our demands to avoid the strike, which is scheduled to start on July 1.

    The doctors listed some of their demands.

    “One of our demands is increment of hazard allowance to at least N100,000. Presently, the hazard allowance is N5000 and we see it as ridiculously low and insulting,” Obembe said.

    The union had frowned at a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) circular directing doctors to get clearance on the importation of medical equipment from the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

    The doctors, at the weekend, directed the NMA to go to court, if it was not satisfied with the directive on importation of In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs) equipment.

    Also, the Edo and Kogi states’ branches of the NMA have said they will join the indefinite strike beginning today.

    Edo State Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Ighodaro, addressed reporters yesterday in Benin, the state capital.

    He said the action was to save Nigerians and the health care delivery system in the country.

    Ighodaro said the strike “is to prevent the chaos that will follow the implementation of the recent circulars released by the Federal Ministry of Health”.

    The union leader said there would be problems if every employee on Grade Level 15 in a hospital, were allowed to rise to a position of a director.

    Dr. Ighodaro said it was unacceptable for the position of the CMD to be by elections rather than by training and capacity building acquired over the years.

    He said: “We are saying that everybody within the hospital cannot be a consultant. This will cause chaos and will distort the direct communication in the Health sector.

    “Everybody cannot be a director because the circular says once you are on Level 15, you should be made a director. This is against the Act setting up the hospital.

    “The act setting up the hospital specifies that there should be a Chief Medical Director (CMD), Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) and a director of administration.

    “For the issue of skipping a grade level, we strongly believe that a situation where other health workers will skip a grade level and doctors will not skip such grade level cannot be accepted.

    “All over the world, the doctor is the leader of the health team because he gives direction and takes responsibilities for every action as it regards patient care.

    “We are saying that we cannot practise in such environment that is not conducive.

    “Nigeria should attain and practice the global best practise that is known.

    “The issue is that the multitude that will die when these policies are implemented should rather be prevented now”, he said

    The Chairman of the Kogi State chapter of the NMA, Dr Kassim Davidson, spoke yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, on the chapter’s readiness to join the strike today.

    He said this followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement it signed with the union.

     

     

    He said government has refused to resolve contentious issues raised by

    NMA, a situation he said made the union to embark on the indefinite strike.

    He said that though the decision was difficult, it remained the only way to improve the country’s health sector.

    Kassim said some of the contentious issues ranged from non passage of health bill into law.

    He said the national health bill if passed into law would address problems associated with the health sector as well as regulate medical practice in the country.

    Kassim pointed out that the union will not call off the strike until the Federal Government implement the 2009 agreement entered with it.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Doctors begin warning strike

    Doctors begin warning strike

    The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) will today begin a three-day warning strike to  seek payment of its members’ outstanding salaries and allowances.

    NARD President Jibril Abdullahi told reporters yesterday at the NARD secretariat at the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital that the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, should be held responsible for his non-commitment to the doctors’ demands.

    The union leader said the grouse of his colleagues included relativity in the salary between doctors and other health workers as well as skipping of Grade Level 12.

    The resident doctors also argued that there was need for the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt world standard and best practices in the salary structure.

    They said there is nowhere in the world where a doctor’s salary is at par with that of other health workers.

    Dr. Abdullahi said the resident doctors would resume duty on Thursday, June 5.

    The union leader said NARD might consider the precarious security situation in the country to render emergency services.

    He added that if the Federal Government failed to implement their demands, the resident doctors would go on an indefinite strike as from July 1.

    The NARD’s demands include full payment of the salaries of its members in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State.

    Dr Abdullahi said: “We are dismayed by the fact that the payment was only for September salaries of resident doctors and one month rather than two for the outgone house officers.

    “Similarly, the current batches of house officers in the same institution were just paid two months’ salary, rather than three months, as was done for the interns of other professions who came in together with them. Moreover, no explanation was given for this aberration.

    “In a nutshell, two of the three months’ payment was made and another one month withheld.

    He added: “After exhaustive deliberations with local chapters’ presidents and other stakeholders, NARD hereby rejects what the Federal Government offers regarding these issues.”

  • Resident doctors commence warning strike Monday

    National Association of Resident Doctors of NigerNARD) will on Monday embark on a three-day warning strike to press home their demand for the implementation of the payment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.

    The President of NARD, Dr. Jibril Abdullahi who spoke to reporters about the strike at NARD secretariat in Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano on Sunday said that the Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu should be held responsible for his non-commitment to the plight and demand of the Resident Doctors in the country.
    According to him, the grouse of the Resident Doctors include the issues of relativity in salary between Doctors and other health workers as well as skipping of grade level 12.
    The Resident Doctors further argued that there was need for the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt world standard and best practices in terms of salary structure, pointing out that there is nowhere in the world where Doctor’s salary are at par with that of other health workers.

    Dr. Abdullahi also announced that the resumption date for the three-day warning strike will be on Thursday, June 5, while noting that NARD being aware of nagging security situation in the country may give peculiarities to emergency services for the sake of common Nigerians.

    He further warned that if the Federal Government fails to implement their demands, the Resident Doctors will not hesitate to embark on an indefinite strike action from July 1, 2014.

    Among the demands of NARD include full payment of salaries of their members in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, “we are dismayed by the fact that the payment was only for September salaries of Resident Doctors and one month rather than two for the out gone House Officers.

    “Similarly, the current batches of House Officers in the same institution were just paid two months’ salary rather than three months as was done to the interns of other professions that came in together with them. Moreover, no explanation was given for this aberration. In a nutshell, two out of three months’ payment was made and another one month withheld,” Dr. Abdullahi stated.

    He further added that the Federal Ministry of Health under the watch of Dr. Onyebuchi has shown lack of commitment towards the resolution of the current impasse, pointing out that, “after exhaustive deliberations with Local Chapter Presidents and other stakeholders, NARD hereby rejects what the Government offers regarding these issues.”

  • When doctors need physicians

    Truth, however underdressed, will always be more magnetic than untruth, however overdressed. This truism will be put to the test in the governorship elections in Ekiti State on June 21 and Osun State on August 9. By logical extension, next year’s critical general elections will also provide an opportunity to observe whether the maxim can stand the test of time in the context of political contest across the country.

    Specifically on Ekiti, last week’s press release on the chances of the candidates in the approaching poll, issued by ANAP Foundation, was food for thought particularly because its appeal to objectivity seemed to contradict objective reality. It is worth mentioning that the body described itself as a “Non-Profit Organisation that is committed to promoting Good Governance”, with the elaboration that its formal statement on the June 2014 Ekiti election is part of its “Election Series which started in 2011.”  According to the communication, “ANAP Foundation has also been collaborating with NOI Polls Limited to help publicise and institutionalise a polling culture which helps political leaders to be aware and more conscious of the yearnings of the electorate.”

    In other words, the publicised result of the poll purportedly conducted in connection with the Ekiti election is possibly intended to encourage a front-runner mentality in the gubernatorial challenger and ex-governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, 53, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)   who held the reins of power from May 2003 to October 2006 when his four-year term was abbreviated by impeachment. ANAP claimed that 31 percent of the electorate endorsed Fayose, while 29 percent backed the incumbent governor and second-term aspirant Kayode Fayemi, 49, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).  Three percent reportedly supported Opeyemi Bamidele, 50, of the Labour Party (LP); and Kola Ajayi of Accord Party (AP) had zero. With a trivial difference of two percent supposedly separating the leading candidates, the pollster portrayed the election as a “close race.”

    Significantly, the report said that 37 percent were “yet to decide.”   With just over one month to go, it is reasonable to reckon that those allegedly undecided about who to vote for are likely to decide the outcome of the election, if the survey is of unquestionable veracity. But is it? To start with, the methodology adopted by the polling group is unclear, just as the margin of error is uncertain. What is more, there are clear curiosities in the announcement; especially the fact that the female support for Fayemi was put at 24 percent against 34 percent for Fayose, which is strikingly implausible, given the state administration’s widely acclaimed feminine-gender sensitivity due largely to the activism of the governor’s wife, Bisi.

    To take the matter further, it is illogical that Fayose who conceded that he had a negative and unattractive track record in office without concrete evidence of reformation would gain acceptance so effortlessly. This is the character who said in a recent interview, ostensibly focused on the electorate, “I am assuring them that the Fayose they were afraid of is a better Fayose. He is more mature and more responsive. If you say I’m a bad man, I say I’ve changed. I am appealing to them that I am a changed man.”  ANAP’s portrayal suspiciously suggests that the electorate has had a change of heart, and Fayose is now in the good books of Ekiti voting population simply on the weak strength of his mere claim that he has improved, which cannot reasonably match Fayemi’s demonstrably persuasive governmental performance.

    These points will suffice to illustrate the immense possibility that the ANAP survey is an enlightening instance of hallucinatory realism; it is most likely the effect of a dream-state or fantasy rather than external reality. To put it more simply, it may well be wishful thinking, with the connotation of an agenda-setting venture without actual relevance to real life except perhaps as a lesson in politically motivated falsification. The exercise brings to mind the title of Darrell Huff’s 1954 book, How to Lie with Statistics, although this is not exactly the same thing as lying with cooked-up or doctored statistics.

    However, there is an unmistakable and potentially perilous dimension to the phoney -sounding poll result; namely, that it could well be a foretaste of a predetermined electoral outcome, meaning that it might serve as a way of preparing the minds of the people for an eventuality. The fact that the report was signed by Atedo Peterside, the president and founder of ANAP Foundation, whose association with President Goodluck Jonathan is beyond conjecture makes it understandably thought-provoking. It may not be without merit to imagine that a friend of Jonathan would be a partisan of PDP and an antagonist of APC. Furthermore, apparently informed assumption about the ownership of NOI Polls reinforces the possibility of the influence of agents of the PDP-constituted central administration on the survey.

    It is instructive that, by way of response, the John Kayode Fayemi (JKF) Campaign Organisation declared, through Dimeji Daniels, “We hereby urge Ekiti people to be vigilant. We wish to state categorically that NOI Polls is nothing but an acronym for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Polls, the real owner of the company who is Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.” The spokesman added, “Our people would recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level has indeed challenged Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to publicly deny her ownership of the company. Expectedly, she has kept mum on the matter. We again reiterate that challenge.”  According to him, “NOI Polls is nothing but a front organisation organising voodoo polls to achieve pre-determined ends for the PDP. Indeed, since these folk are the pollsters of the Jonathan administration, Nigerians can now understand why we are in this present mess as this same company organises monthly polls for the Presidency under the close supervision of its owner, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.” No doubt, clarification by the accused would be in order.

    It is an eye-opener that the release of ANAP’s statistics coincided with news of APC’s magnetisation of two former PDP members of considerable political stature, particularly a former governor of the state, Segun Oni, whose U-turn is remarkable.  His term was shortened by Fayemi’s victory in 2010 after a three-and-a half-year legal challenge. The other person is a lawmaker in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo. Oni put the defining desideratum in a capsule, saying, “We must ask ourselves who is in a better position to give Ekiti a better future, the kind of future that we want.”  Certainly, it will be a mission impossible for spin doctors to redefine this clarity for the people.

  • Expectant mums protest poor health facilities

    Expectant mums protest poor health facilities

    •Relatives assault doctors

    More than 200 expectant mothers staged a surprise protest yesterday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, over their inability to register for antenatal care at government-owned hospitals.

    They also protested lack of facilities at the laboratories of the Benin Central Hospital.

    The women, on their way to the Government House, marched on the House of Assembly complex for some hours. Many of them, however, could not make it.

    One of the protesters, who gave her name as Evelyn, said she and other women registered for antenatal care two months ago but have not seen a doctor.

    Evelyn said the hospital staff told them that there were no equipment to conduct tests and as such doctors could not make any diagnosis.

    She said: “It’s been two months since we registered and we have not done anything. They said there is no equipment to conduct tests. The doctors cannot make any diagnosis without tests. Even ultrasound we cannot do. That is why we are on the streets protesting.”

    Another expectant mother, Mrs. Rabi Yusuf, said she and others were not allowed to register for antenatal care at the hospital.

    Mrs. Yusuf said they were told “no equipment to register”.

    Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Idehenre told the protesters that their message would be convened to the governor.

    A worker at the antenatal unit of the Central Hospital said they have registered over 100 expectant mothers.

    She said the staff at the unit were not enough to cater for the increasing number of expectant mothers at the hospital.

    Besides the antenatal clinic, it was gathered that other clinics and department at the hospital were in a comatose state.

    A doctor and nurse on duty were reportedly beaten by relatives of a dying patient after they were told that there was no oxygen in the hospital.

    Tests for malaria, typhoid and other illnesses were conducted outside the hospital.

    The theatre was closed; casual workers refused to report for duty for lack of payment and bed sheets in some wards were not changed.

    Sources said the problems began two months ago when the government ordered that all revenue from the hospitals should be paid into the state revenue account from where running costs would be disbursed.

    An employee at the Central Hospital said N1.250million was disbursed to 36 hospitals across the state out of which the Central Hospital got N200,000.

    He said:”Before now, we spend our earnings on running cost and it was okay but they now asked us to pay into the government account. How can they give us N200,000 as running cost? This hospital is down and nothing is working. “

    It was gathered that the government streamlined the hospital finances to stop leakages because the hospital management claimed to spend everything it earned.

    Commissioner for Health Heregie Aihanuwa said the government was working toward resolving all issues at the hospital.

  • Doctors in the house

    Doctors in the house

    The College of Veterinary Medicine of the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, has  inducted its fresh graduates. ABIOLA SOLANKE and TUNDE ADEROUNMU (600-Level Veterinary Medicine) report.

    The men looked resplendent in their well-tailored suits; the women appeared gorgeous in their skirt suits. They are graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State set to take the oath of their profession to be administered by Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN).

    Of the lot that enrolled six years ago for the course, 26 were lucky to complete the programme.

    They smiled as they were joined by family members, friends and well-wishers for the induction at the Prof Mahmood Yakub Lecture Theatre.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof O.B Oyewole led other principal officers to the ceremony, which was attended by wife of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola, former General Overseer (G.O) of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Dr Wilson Badejo, VCN officials and veterinary medicine practitioners, among others.

    The Dean of the college, Prof R.O. Arowolo noted that the college had turned out over 130 graduates since inception. He urged the inductees not to tarnish the reputation of the profession. “Always seek for knowledge and make the best of your career,” he urged.

    The VCN president, Prof Garuba Sharubutu, who was represented by a senior VCN official, told the inductees to respect senior colleagues and pay attention to rules as they begin their practice. “One area that the council finds disturbing is lack of respect for senior colleagues and superiors in the profession by the younger ones. You must avoid that. Also, you must be very conversant with the rules governing the veterinary profession,” he advised.

    President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association Interim Management Committee, Prof Onifade Tomori, represented by Dr Kunle Abiade of Pet Care Services, urged the graduates to improve on the knowledge they learnt in school, saying they must always be conversant with new techniques.

    He said: “The knowledge you have received is just the foundation; you are expected to improve on it. You must be abreast of the trend on the field and make a success of it. You need to continually develop yourself because the practice of today is different from what we had 10 years ago.”

    He added: ”You must uphold the culture of excellence the university is known for.”

    Prof Oyewole said: “Just as you have been advised, you must have mentors and define what you want to achieve with this profession. You need to be courageous and be change agents in your environment. You must distinguish yourselves as professionals and uphold excellence which the university is known for.”

    The highpoint of the occasion was the administration of the veterinary oath on the graduates. The session was performed by Dr Amang Markus Avong, VCN Registrar, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar, Dr Josiah Kantiyo. The ceremony also featured awards of excellence to private veterinary practitioners and fund raising for the furnishing of the newly-built Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

    The best graduating student, Miss Jahsola Quadri, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, thanked their lecturers and parents for labouring to make their dreams come true. “We thank the management, the college authorities, our parents, friends, and well–wishers for the roles they played in ensuring that we are being inducted today. We specially appreciate our parents for the financial support,” she said.

    She was awarded N50,000 as cash-prize for being the best graduating student.

    Other guests at the ceremony included Dr Tunde Lawal, Managing Director of Turner Wrights Limited; Dr Musa Alasa, Chief Executive Officer of Adamore Nigeria Limited; Dr Tunde Agbato, President, Animal Care Consult; Dr Dotun Sorunke, Director, Ogun State Veterinary Services and Dr O.B. Adedeji of Vet Public Health, University of Ibadan.

     

     

  • Edo, doctors reach agreement

    Edo State government and the Nigeria Medical Association have reached an agreement on matters affecting doctors’ conditions of service and improving infrastructure in the health sector.

    The doctors went on strike last year, to demand for employment in the health board, improvement in infrastructure and implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

    Speaking after a meeting with the doctors, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said: “We have carried out a survey to establish where we have health centres, hospitals, and how many doctors, nurses, we need. Now the challenge is finding the money to employ all those we need.”

    The NMA Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Ighodaro, said: “I want to say today has been a happy day in the health sector in Edo State, because there was a landmark achievement.

    “We agree quite honestly that the issues concerning health cannot be solved in one day, but what we clamoured for was that the right step should be taken. Today, the right step has been taken and other ancillary issues were also addressed.

    “As we speak, government has said even now, we must do something and we are grateful to them. We are saying the people should keep faith with us and keep faith with the government.”

  • Doctors strike for January 6

    Doctors strike for January 6

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to begin an indefinite strike on January 6, if its demands are not met by the Federal Government.

    NMA National President Osahon Enabulele said yesterday that doctors in public hospitals would end their five-day warning strike and resume duty today.

    Enabulele, in a statement in Lagos, said all doctors in the public health sector would resume full services at 8am today.

    On December 15, doctors began a nationwide strike to protest poor working conditions, inadequate funding and poor infrastructure in the public health sector.

    Enabulele said: “NMA wishes to inform the public that doctors in the public health sector will resume services today.

    “This is in line with our earlier promise to give prime consideration to the Yuletide in the prosecution of our warning strike.

    “It is also to give another opportunity to the Federal Government to concretely resolve all the demands of the NMA, for which it first issued a 21-day ultimatum on September 2.

    “Doctors will begin a full strike from 8am on January 6, 2014, if the government does not satisfactorily resolve our demands.

    “We urge well-meaning Nigerians to assist in the resolution of our demands, which include appropriate funding of the healthcare system, expansion of universal health coverage to all Nigerians and health infrastructure upgrade.”

    Activities in all government-owned hospitals nationwide were paralysed during the five-day strike by doctors.

  • Striking doctors call off strike Monday

    After five days of disrupting activities at the nation’s hospitals, striking doctors will Monday return to the duty posts.
    Announcing the call off of the strike in a terse press statement Sunday, President of the   Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Osahon Enabulele said that the doctors have agreed to give the Federal Government another chance.
    Enabulele therefore called on  doctors in the public health sector to resume full services with effect from 8am on Monday.
    The statement read:
    “The leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) wishes to inform the general public that Nigerian doctors in the public health sector will resume services from tomorrow, Monday 23rd December, 2013.
    “This is in line with her earlier promise to give prime consideration to the yuletide season in the prosecution of her warning strike action and to give another opportunity for the government to concretely resolve all the demands of the Nigerian Medical Association for which she first issued a 21day ultimatum to government on the 2nd of September, 2013.
    “Accordingly, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association calls on all Nigerian doctors in the public health sector to resume full services with effect from 8am on Monday 23rd December, 2013.We also wish to use this opportunity to remind government that Nigerian doctors shall not hesitate to commence a full blown strike action from 8am on Monday, 6th January 2014, if government does not satisfactorily resolve the demands of the Nigerian Medical Association. We therefore call on the Local, State and Federal levels of Government to take note of this notice.
    “While appreciating the great understanding and solidarity exhibited by Nigerians during the warning strike action, we fervently call on all well-meaning Nigerians to assist in the resolution of the demands of the NMA, amongst which are the resolution of the unmitigated injustices done to Nigerian doctors over time, appropriate funding of Nigeria’s healthcare system and expansion of Universal health coverage to cover all Nigerians, health infrastructural upgrade, e.t.c.
    We wish all Nigerians a happy yuletide season and a blessed 2014. ”

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  • Doctors begin nationwide strike on Wednesday

    Nigerians are in for another hard time as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) five-day nationwide warning strike begins on Wednesday.

    The association also threatened to embark on an indefinite and total strike if the federal government fail to use the window of the 5 day warning strike to meet all her demands.

    NMA Presiden Osahion Enabulele who spoke with reporters in Minna on Sunday after the National Executive Committee meeting and an Emergency Delegates Congress of the association said the association was constrained to declare the industrial action due to the extremely poor progress in the resolution of their demands after expiration of several ultimatum issued to the federal government.

    The NMA President lamented that unions now have to resort to strike because government ” seems not to appreciate the need for constructive dialogue but only respond to strike actions”

    Describing the development as a sad reflection of the state of affairs in the country, the NMA President bemoaned that industrial strikes have become the routine in the country today.

    Enabulele threatened further that if the warning strike fails, the association would have no other choice than to resort to total strike.

    “For now, what we have issued as a test to the commitment of government is a warning strike. We hope the federal government would rise up to its responsibilities and use this opportunity to address the issues presented to it because if this fails, we may have no choice than to declare a total strike action.

    “We feel the federal government is either taking us for a ride or the strategy being employed by us is not appreciated. Handling our issues with levity is what has led us to declare this warning strike action.”

    He further said that if not for the yuletide period, the association would have declared a total strike action because according to him “members felt they have been pushed to their limits but they considered the delicate period and the interest of Nigerians which they have at hand.

    “The reason for the strike being five days is to give allowance to our people. Our members were agitating for a total action because they felt they have been pushed to their limit but we recognize that this is a delicate period and Nigerians need to be given some allowance during this period. We hope the federal government will utilize the opportunity to resolve the issue on ground.”