Share!
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has expressed worry over the Federal Government decision to cede the management of coronavirus response to state governments in the country.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha had, on Sunday, said in the next phase of the lockdown beginning from today, Monday, states will take responsibility for managing COVID-19 in their areas.
“The ownership of the next phase will be the responsibility of the states under national supervision and coordination, because we have gone into community transmission. Where are the communities? The communities are in the states,” Mustapha had stated.
However, speaking on a TV programme on AIT, on Monday, the newly elected NMA president, Innocent Ujah disapproved the federal government’s decision, stating that if governors are allowed to manage cases, many Nigerians would suffer for it.
“The president should not devolve those powers to the state governments because, apart from Lagos and maybe one or two other states, the commitment is, to say the least, very disappointing. I can say that because I’m a clinician myself,” said Ujah.
“I believe that the president should please not devolve those powers. This is an emergency. Coordination is very important and the coordination should be central, should be from a point, because once you do that, Nigerians will be finished. And we pray that he doesn’t do that.
“There is nothing like local government in Nigeria; I’m sorry. It’s there in the constitution but there is nothing. So, please let’s not do that.
“This is not a political issue; this is a health issue. It cuts across everybody. We know where the commitments are and we will need the president to please prevail on the governors. If we leave it to the governors, our people will suffer; they will die and it doesn’t really matter to many of them.”
