Oyo doctors declare strike over colleagues’ sack
Following last week sack of about 256 members of staff of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso and transfer of another 299 staff including six consultants to different parts of Oyo State, coupled with the redeployment of 55 resident doctors, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo state branch yesterday directed doctors in the state, both public and private to embark on a three-day strike to protest the alleged unfair treatment by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
NMA chairman, Dr. Mojisola Atalabi, who disclosed this during a press conference in Ibadan, also directed that the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria (MDCAN) and Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso should proceed on immediate and indefinite total strike forthwith. During the 3-day strike, the NMA, however, said that emergency cases would be attended to as South West zonal executive of NMA would also hold a crucial meeting on the issue.
Atalabi, who noted that the strike was declared with the knowledge and permission of National President of NMA, Prof Mike Ogirima, has therefore placed eight demands before the government of Ajimobi including immediate reversal of redeployment of resident doctors that should be allowed to continue with their training unconditionally; reversal of salary to full payment that should include skipping and relativity; proper funding of residency programme for effective and qualitative training.
Other demands included payment of 24 months’ salary arrears from December 2016 to December 2017, being owed health personnel in the institution and stoppage of percentage salary for the health workers; immediate constitution of a proper Governing Board for the smooth running of the institution and that all doctors in the hospital should be treated like other employees of the state and should be placed on the payroll of the government and pay their full salaries.
She said: “We appeal to the good people of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole to wade into this crisis and defend the cause of justice for the oppressed voices of Nigerians in Oyo State as we appeal to Governor Abiola Ajimobi to listen to the voices of reasoning and allow LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, to live and not snuff life out of it. “It is a pride of Oyo State.
The association will always be opened to discussion or dialogue on these issues to find a lasting solution to the challenges affecting the teaching hospital.” Meanwhile, President of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Chinaka Tochukwu, led top members of the association to a five-hour crucial meeting with Ajimobi on Monday evening on the crisis rocking the hospital.
