Amidst speculations that the registration of a new union by the federal government is an attempt to weaken the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the president of the association, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, has said that the new union will not affect the NMA in any way.

The minister of labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Wednesday approved the registration of the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

Ngige said that NAMDA include medical doctors doing pre- clinical teaching of basic medical courses and honorary consultants teaching clinical students in the universities.

“In view of this registration, you are entitled to all rights and privileges accruable to a union of similar status which include the right to receive check off dues of members,” he added.

This has sparked speculations that the government is also trying to weaken the NMA with the new union, just as it is doing with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

However, Ojinmah told our correspondent that the NMA does not see it as a threat,  saying that medical doctors in the academics are part of the NMA.

Also, the immediate past general secretary of NMA and medical director of Nyanyan General Hospital, Dr. Philip Ikpe, said the NMA supports the new union.

He said: “In short, NMA grows stronger. We support them.”