Doctors To Begin 1-Week Warning Strike In Ogun

Doctors under the aegis of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, Ogun State Chapter, have threatened to commence a one-week warning strike starting from Monday, March 7 to press home their demands.

‎In a statement issued at the end of the emergency general meeting of the association, last Wednesday, the association said that the strike became imperative after they had explored all opportunities to get the attention of the state government on issues affecting the health system in the state.

The statement, signed by its Chairman, Dr. Oladunni Adetola and the Secretary, Dr. Adetonwa Festus, had it that series of letters were written to the state government on the need to restructure health facilities; shortage of staff and relativity.

The association explained that little or nothing could be achieved in the health sector in the state, considering lack of materials, equipment ‎and good working environment.

The body also identified shortage of staff across all cadres of ‎the health workers, submitting that there had been no new recruitment in the last two to three years, despite the increasing demands on the sector.

NAGGMDP also noted with dismay what it termed the refusal of the state government to respect a circular by the federal government since 2013 on the need for all states to effect the payment of corrected CONMESS to correct an error of over 20 years on the doctors’ salary.

“After series of letters to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, both official and personal, as well as sensitization of all other stakeholders, the government has not seen any reason to attend to any of the aforementioned issues ravaging the health sectors.

“Having fulfilled all necessary steps needed to ensure dialogue with the government and at the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum given to the state government with no favourable response, the members of the association have therefore mandated ‎the executive members to declare a one week warning strike starting from March 7 to 13.

“We are not unmindful of the inconveniences this might cause the masses which we greatly regret, we need to affirm our resolution to resolve these issues amicably through genuine dialogue so as to avert any prolonged industrial disharmony in the state,” the statement read.