Medical
doctors employed by the Ondo State Government have begun a two-week warning
strike to press for better working conditions.
The doctors, under the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental
Practitioners, said the state government had failed to pay their salary arrears for some months. They also alleged that the state had failed to resolve the issue of the exodus of doctors and other health workers, among other issues.They gave the
notice in a letter addressed to the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, after its
meeting on June 9, 2021.
The letter
was signed by the state chairman and secretary of the NAGGMDP, Roland
Arohunmolase and Richard Obe respectively.
“With due
respect to your office, we write to notify your office of the immediate
withdrawal of service by our members working under Ondo State Government Civil
Service,” the letter, titled the ‘Notice of Withdrawal of Service’, read.
“Following
Ordinary General Meeting of our association held on Wednesday 9th of June,
2021, members resolved at proceeding on two weeks warning strike starting from
8:00 am, 10th of June, 2021.”
The doctors
went further to list the “nonpayment of salary arrears being owed health
workers in Ondo State (January 2017, March, April and May 2021), gross
understaffing of government hospitals following mass exodus of doctors and
other health workers from the state, non-regular payment of salaries and
non-harmonization of doctors’ grade level in Ondo State Civil Service as
approved by the Governor as contained in the letter written to Nigerian Medical
Association Ondo State in March, 2021.”
The doctors
also complained of percentage payment of salaries to health workers,
non-payment of the third tranche of COVID-19 allowance, and non-implementation
of Group Life Insurance for all Health workers.
“Against this
backdrop, we wish to let you know that our members have been overstretched and
their emotional intelligence badly affected,” the letter further read.
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