The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has elected Dr Zubair Kabiru as its chairman for the next two years.
Kabiru was elected on Saturday at the end of the association’s 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference held in Lokoja, the state capital.
Kabiru, a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Parasotologist at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, garnered a total of 174 votes to beat his opponent, Dr Jimmy Idata of the Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology, Kogi Specialist Hospital, who had 58 votes.
Dr Okogbuwa Osaretin, was elected as the Secretary, while Dr Friday Ameh, became the Assistant Secretary unopposed
Daily Trust reports that other State executive officers were also elected.
In his acceptance remarks, Kabiru said he was very excited about the result of the election, saying, “I have been a member of NMA for over 10 years, and I have had several experiences from the past leadership.”
Kabiru, who was the immediate past Secretary of the association, said that the new executives would carry every member along and work assiduously to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors.
He said that his mission was to reduce their members’ overdependence on government and to look into other areas where doctors could utilize their skills to earn money and invest.
“As a sitting secretary, I understand all the issues the association is facing, especially the issue of non-payment of salary, which almost caused disunity between federal and state doctors.
“We want correction of underpayments, implementation of corrected/adjusted CONMESS, promotion and annual step increment, among others.
“We are appealing to the governor to fulfil his promise to make the welfare of doctors to be paramount and of very important to his the government,” he said.
Kabiru called on state government to ensure regular payment of doctors’ salaries to prevent their mass exodus in search of greener pastures.
