Doctors in Ogun have threatened to shut down the medical sector from September 20 to protest poor pay and shortchange of doctors in the state civil service.
Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Ogun, Dr Ogunlaja Oladayo, said the state has failed to begin negotiation with the Association of Resident Doctors which suspended its strike on September 7.
The association at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital had suspended its strike to allow for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government over the agitations for regularisation of pay and other improved welfare demands.
The ARD had said the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo brokered the peace between it and the government .
It said a Memorandum of Understanding would be produced within the two weeks period which was at the instance of the speaker.
But the NMA Chairman while speaking on the development on Monday, expressed concern that the government had failed to start discussion with the doctors one week after it had suspended the strike.
Oladayo hinted that the ARD will fully resume the industrial action on September 20 should the state government fails to commit itself on the payment of the appropriate remuneration.
According to him, the inappropriate remuneration affects all the medical doctors in the employ of the state and not only the Resident Doctors.
Oladayo explained that less than N35 million is required monthly to effect payment of the appropriate remuneration on about 600 doctors employed by the state.
He denied allegations that the strike was politically motivated, saying the agitation the ongoing administration, but the government had been adamant.
“All the doctors in Ogun State are actually agitating for this same problem.
“We are waiting for the government to start meaningful discussions on this problem.
“If the government does not resolve this issue by the 20th September, 2020, ARD in OOUTH and their senior consultants will resume this industrial action.
“And after their resumption, let me say categorically, that the NMA which I’m representing cannot guarantee that all doctors in Ogun State will be at work.
“We will regret any action or inaction that may follow this suspension of two weeks strike if government doesn’t do the needful.”
Reacting to the threat, the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Communication, Remmy Hazzan promised that the government would engage the doctors this week with a view to addressing the agitations.
“We are very much responsible and true to our words.
“We are the one asking that they come to the table, if they say they are willing, I don’t see any reason why we should renege on our intention to be at the table.
“So, reminding us that we need to be at the table is like stating the obvious. Definitely that discussion will happen this week and this time it is going to be definite, there will be result and everyone will move on from there.”
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