Veterinary Doctors Threaten Shutdown Over CONMESS, Gives Bauchi Govt 21-Day Ultimatum

The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Bauchi State Chapter, has given the Bauchi state government a 21-day ultimatum to implement the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for veterinary medical doctors in the state.

The association warned that failure by the state government to address the issue within the stipulated period would lead to the total withdrawal of veterinary services across the state.

The chairman of the association in Bauchi State, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim, disclosed this yesterday while addressing a press conference in Bauchi.

He said veterinary doctors in the state had been excluded from the implementation of the revised CONMESS despite what the association described as relevant provisions contained in official documents from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

According to him, the association had made several efforts through correspondence and engagements with relevant government authorities to secure the inclusion of veterinary medical doctors in the revised salary structure, but the efforts had yet to yield the desired result.

He said the association had engaged the office of the head of Civil Service, Ministry of Livestock Development, Ministry of Finance and other relevant government offices in an attempt to resolve the matter amicably.

“Despite these numerous efforts and contacts, the association regrets that a satisfactory and definitive action towards the implementation of the revised CONMESS for Veterinary Medical Doctors in the state has not been achieved.

“The continued delay has created considerable concern and frustration among our members,” he said.

Dr. Ibrahim said veterinary medical doctors played an important role in the state’s health system, particularly in disease prevention and control, food safety, meat inspection, disease surveillance and the protection of the public from zoonotic diseases.

He said veterinary services were also essential to livestock production and the provision of safe and wholesome animal products to residents of the state.

“Veterinary Medical Doctors are an indispensable component of the health system. Our members are responsible not only for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases in animals, but also for the control of zoonotic diseases, veterinary public health, meat inspection, food safety, disease surveillance, outbreak response and livestock production,” he said.

The chairman stressed that the veterinary profession had traditionally avoided industrial action because of the significant public health implications of withdrawing its services.

He, however, said the prolonged delay over the salary structure had left the association with limited options.

“Such action is quite new to us and also to the outside world. We are issuing this ultimatum with a deep sense of regret at a time when the international community is advocating a One Health approach to tackling re-emerging diseases and the growing danger of antimicrobial resistance,” he said.

According to him, veterinary doctors remained at the forefront of efforts to prevent and control diseases affecting both animals and humans.

Dr Ibrahim said the association had “Exercised considerable patience and restraint” and exhausted available channels for peaceful engagement with the government.

He therefore formally gave the state government 21 days to take “Decisive and concrete steps” towards implementing the revised CONMESS for veterinary medical doctors in Bauchi State.

He warned that if the demand was not addressed within the stipulated period, the association would commence a total shutdown of veterinary services and activities across the state.

The threatened action, he said, would include withdrawal of veterinary services from state government veterinary establishments and programmes, local government veterinary services, abattoirs and slaughter facilities.

Others include meat inspection and certification, meat processing facilities, vaccination programmes, livestock disease surveillance and control activities, veterinary clinics and other official veterinary functions carried out by members of the association.

Dr Ibrahim, however, emphasised that industrial action was not the association’s preferred option.

“We wish to emphasise that this intended action is not our preferred course of action. The association remains committed to peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue with the state government,” he said.

He appealed to Governor Bala Mohammed to personally intervene by directing the relevant ministries, departments and agencies to conclude the necessary processes for the implementation of the revised CONMESS.

“We respectfully believe that Your Excellency’s intervention will avert the proposed industrial action and restore confidence among Veterinary Medical Doctors who have continued to serve the people of Bauchi State diligently and professionally under challenging environmental and security circumstances,” he said.

The NVMA chairman said the association remained willing to meet with the governor or any committee or representative designated by him to deliberate on the matter and reach a mutually acceptable resolution within the 21-day period.

The association urged the state government to treat the matter with urgency before the expiration of the ultimatum.