Lagos Doctors Begin Indefinite Sit-At-Home Strike To Protest Police Harassment

The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association has directed members to embark on a “Sit-at-Home strike to protest alleged harassment of its member at the frontline of Covid-19 by security operatives.

The group accused the Police in Lagos of harassing its members through conflicting directives on the status of essential workers.

In a press statement, the association of doctors noted that “Whereas the directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhamadu Buhari, through the Presidential Taskforce on COVID 19, was clear on the exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health-workers from the ongoing lockdown/movement restrictions, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health-workers are NOT exempted”.

The group said as a result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, it has been inundated with several cases of harassments and intimidation of doctors and other health-workers by officers of the Lagos State Police command.

The group said it was no longer safe for its members to continue to work under the present conflicting directives; pointing out that it has directed all members to proceed on an indefinite “Sit at home” strike.