The importance of belonging to a professional association was revealed to me quite early in my career. In medical school and during the course of my training, life dealt several blows to many of my colleagues and seniors.
My first experience was when a senior registrar whom we were quite fond of as students, was diagnosed with liver cancer. We heard rumours that the organisation he worked for had turned a blind eye to his plight. Later, it was confirmed that the state chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) funded his trip to India and subsequent management until his demise.
Similarly, I recall the story of a doctor who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He came from humble beginnings and his modest salary as a Junior doctor could not afford him the luxury of travelling out of the country for treatment. This was at a time when Neurosurgery was not fully established in Nigeria. Again, it was the state branch of this association that arranged for all the doctors of that institution to take a N20,000 pay cut over a few months so as to raise the money needed for travel and surgery. Today, he is alive and well. What his family and place of work could not do, his associates did, quietly and generously.
In recent times, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has also approved of a modest sum to be paid to doctors who have passed away, especially in the line of duty. Many of the amenities we currently enjoy as well as the advancement of medical practice in this country were fought for by professional bodies.
So why the fuss about associations today?
Last week, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on, yet another, nationwide indefinite strike action. This followed the federal government’s failure to meet their demands after a 14-day ultimatum. And what were their demands? You ask. The provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all government hospitals, which, given the current pandemic, should be a matter of urgency for the government but rather is proving to be a matter of national embarrassment; The procurement of life insurance for health workers, funding for the medical residency training act and the unlawful disengagement of resident doctors in JUTH among others. These are all vital issues which the association has been pursuing for a very long time, but we all know the modus operandi of the Nigerian government. They suddenly develop hearing loss to all things that will benefit the Nigerian civil servant. They claim not to hear or understand all the demands and ultimatums that are made. Whether it is ASUU, NMA, NARD, JoHESU or PENGASSAN, their response is the same: mutism. That is, until they hear the word- Strike! Suddenly, their auditory meatus becomes wide open and their brains become clear. Praise God!
After hearing ‘Strike’, the next move is cheap blackmail. Government now proceeds to paint the doctors or lecturers or whoever is currently on strike, black. Last week, the Honourable Minister of Health was quoted as saying that it is only in Nigeria that doctors go on strike during a pandemic. Abegi! It is also only in Nigeria that doctors have to beg for PPEs during a pandemic!
After the black paint has been successfully smeared on the striking party, the next move is for the almighty threats. They will sack us all and employ new people. They will stop paying our salaries. Shift Jor! So how come the government has not sacked all ASUU members? Is it that easy to replace professors? And do you think the new people employed will not revolt later on? Next chapter, please!
Thereafter begins the multiple closed- and open-door negotiations. Closed door meetings for the more sinister negotiations where money purportedly exchanges hands, and open-door meetings for when they want to show the public how the association officials stormed out of the meeting angrily. Another coat of Dulux paint added.
Next comes the interference by highly placed government officials. In our case, it was the Honourable speaker of the National Assembly, Secretary to the FG and chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum. The trick is to involve many elderly and smooth-talking politicians who will make many promises, release part of the funds required so that the officials are manipulated into calling off the strike. That is until the rest of the demands are not met, then the association goes on strike, again. And the cycle continues.
As a true Nigerian civil servant, I have memorised all the steps involved in this game of chess between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Civil servant. And frankly speaking, It has become quite boring; Isn’t it time we changed this old tune?
It would be extremely naïve of me to assume that all the demands made by associations in Nigeria are altruistic; indeed, some are downright irrational. However, it is imperative on the Nigerian government to remove the wax from their ears, listen to the demands, enlighten the public and be seen to engage in negotiations thereby preventing a strike action. Because at the end of the day, who does a strike action benefit anyway? Nobody! Certainly not the government who stands to lose millions of Naira, not the civil servant whose salary may be withheld and definitely not the masses. However, until such a time comes, civil servants will continue to speak the only language the government understands-Strike.
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