Prevention and Management of the Election Related Crisis in Nigerian Medical Association
Presented at the Leadership retreat organized by the NMA October 2018
By
Dr. Muideen B. Olatunji
Past Chairman; NMA, Oyo State
The Association
The Nigerian Medical Association
Founded in 1960
Evolved from, British Medical Association, Nigerian Branch
Founded in 1951
Umbrella bodies for all Medical & Dental Practitioners, registered in Nigeria
Western Nigeria; the Root
Aim and Objectives
To Ensure that Medical & Dental Practitioners in Nigeria Uphold the Physicians Oath
To Promote the Advancement of Health and Allied Sciences
To Assist the Government and Peoples of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Provision of Smooth, Efficient & Effective Health Care Delivery System in the Country
To Promote the Welfare of all Medical & Dental Practitioners in the Country
To Co-operate with International Organizations that have Similar Aims & Objectives
To Consider & Express Views on all Proposed Legislation, National & International Issues, Health Care Delivery System, Medical & Dental Education in Nigeria
Membership
Any Medical or Dental Practitioner Registered Under the Medical & Dental Practitioners’ Decree 23 of 1998 (Act CAP 221 Laws of the Federation) and as Subsequently Amended shall have a Right of Membership of the Association on Payment of the Annual Practicing Fee
Categories of Memberships
Ordinary Members (Has Right to Vote)
Life Members
¡Ordinary Members has paid b/4 Jan. 1989 life membership fee = 20 years
¡Ordinary members above 80 years & active financial member for at least 20 years
Honorary Members (Has no Right to Vote)
Associate Members (Has no Right to Vote)
Student Members ( Has no Right to Vote)
Distant Members
The Structure
The National Body
Head by the President
The NOC
The NEC
Congress
The State Branches
Head by the Chairman
SOC
SEC
Congress
The Federal Capital Territory
Head by the Chairman and Structured as a State
Pattern of Race Baton
A Model of Shura Committee
Leadership of the Association Evolves through Election Process
The culture of One-Man-One-Vote
Democracy with concept of Majority
Delegate Voting
The Election
This is in Article 11
Election Holds Every Two Years
Single Term for all Officers on a Post/Office
Eligibility is Subject to Article 4
At the State Level
The By-law often Require Local Annual Dues (Classical Lacuna for Exploitation)
The Crisis Trigger Factor
Empire Syndrome
Regional Sentiment
Group Sentiment
Common Interest
Majority Dominance
Intra Cadre Bickering
The God-Father
The Mafioso
The North South Conflict
The Lagos Axis Dominance
The Rebellion
The Kaduna Outing
The Great Mobilization
Ujah Vs Grainge Show of Witt
Local Ring
Larger Group Vs Smaller Groups
Generalist Vs Specialist
Mafia within a Community
The Bond of Common Interest
Established Tradition Vs New Order
Election Related Crisis
Definition: This is a Major Unpredictable Event or an Activity that has Potential Negative Result following Election Process
The Common Elements of Crisis:
Threat to the Association
Element of Surprise
A Short Decision Time
Look into the Mirror
The Crisis Rear its Ugly Head Unexpectedly (Not at all times)
Decisions are Required by the Apex Leadership Urgently
Time is Short
Specific Threats are Identified
There is Urgent Demand for Information
There is Sense of Loss of Control
Pressure Builds over Time
Routine Business Becomes Difficult
Demands are made to Identify Someone to Blame
Reputation Suffers
Communications are Increasingly Difficult to Manage
Prevention of Election Related Crisis in NMA
Lets Understand Our Differences, Don’t Admonish that we Forget it!
NMA a Mini Nigeria; A Nation with gapping Faults Lines; Seal the Fault Lines
Evolve a Culture of all Inclusiveness
Imbibe and Internalize the Concept and Ideals of Hippocratic Oath
Relegate the Animal Farm Syndrome
THE SECOND LEVEL
Election Crisis Management
Crisis Management is the Process by which the Association deals with this Ugly Event that Threatens to Harm our Association’s Corporate Image, her Members, Stakeholders and the perception by the allied members of the Health Community and by Extension the Views of the General Public
Crisis Intervention Plan
Assess the Risk
Produce Plans
Defines Roles and Responsibilities
Appoint the Crisis Management Team
Draw up Communication Plan
Define Contact and Organization Chart
Activate Crisis Ready Culture
The Crisis Management Team
The Role of the Crisis Management Team (CMT) in this Situation is a Straight Forward Mitigation Process and Restoration of Peace
The Team Should:
Establish what has Happened
Assess the Impact and depth
Resolve any Conflict and Interest
Identify and Prioritize Actions Required
Retain Control
Responsibilities of the Team
Prevention of Further Crisis and to be Normal Again
To Minimize Losses
To Encash any Opportunities
Ensure Survival of the Association
Successful Outcomes
Team Make Up
An ideal Intervention Team Requires Representation from various Groups and Opinions so as to Remove Perceived Bias that may Taint the Assigned Duty.
Never to be Constituted from the Theater of War
Essential Principles of an Arbiter
First, The Intervention Team Can Only be effective and Successful in the Assigned Task if the Team is well informed, Understand the Rules of Engagement in NMA, Committed to the Principles and Ideals of the Association as well as the Crisis Management Plan and Protocol, so that they could be Successful in the Assigned Task
Secondly, The Association (NMA) on its Own, Needs to Establish and Enshrine a Robust and Acceptable Crisis Management Culture within the Entire Spread of the Association as a Known Tradition, this is when the Association would be Responding to Crisis Promptly and Appropriately
Crisis Management Command Chain
The Crisis Resolution Team is Appointed by the Highest Authority . The Peace Team is to Assess the Immediate and Remote Cause(s) of the Crisis. Responsible Only to the Appointing Authority, The NOC Under the President
The President
The President on Behalf of the NOC is to Receive the Feedback produced by the Intervention Team. The Core Responsibilities of the President/NOC are:
Maintain the Corporate Image of the Association at such trying Period
Provide Guidance/Mandate to the Peace Committee
Receive Report and Recommendation from the Committee and Provide Approval & Directions
Be Accountable to the Directive Provided
Information Management
There must be an Officer Designated for Internal & External Communication Tasks. One of the Fundamental Flaws in Many Crisis Responses is that an Overdose of Information is Produce but with NO Real Focus to the Communication Strategy
Effective & Proactive Communication will Create & Build the Perception that the Association is Under Control.
That the Association Know and Understands what is Happening and that it will Resolve the Crisis
Summary of Core Responsibility of the Peace Team
Analyze and Assess the Incidents of the Election Crisis
Resolve the Acute Crisis:- Step in & Kick Out Malady
Collate Evidences
Make Objective Inference
Provide Recommendations
Report to the President
The President
Execute Action to Facilitate the Return to a State of Normalcy.
Caveat: The Peace Committee
The Election Crisis Resolution Team Members Must, as a Matter of Principle be:
Well Informed and Assertive
Experienced
Polite and Patient
Brave Enough to Face Reality
Should Have Positive Approach
Effective Communicator
Risk Manager
Problem/Challenges Identifier
Accurate and Reliable
Mind Stability
Available and Willing to Work Under Stress
Trustworthy
The Final Round Table
Lets Jaw-Jaw and Not War-War
Thanks for Listening
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