The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State chapter, has sent a letter to the state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, informing him of an impending strike by its members.
The NMA said the threat was necessary due to the inability of the State Government to pay the 70 per cent salary shortfalls of resident doctors of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
The association issued a 14-day ultimatum to the governor, after which it will be embarking on a 3 day warning strike.
The resident doctors in the hospital had reportedly been on 30 per cent salary since January, 2016 and agitations from the doctors have been ignored.
In a letter dated November 13, 2017, titled ‘Noticed of warning strike’ and signed by the association’s chairman, Dr Omolola M Atalabi-Oladele, and General Secretary, Dr. Abimbola Sojimi, the doctors urged the state government to find solution to the salary issues or the doctors in the state would go on warning strike.
“Consequent upon series of efforts and avenues to seek audience with you towards the resolution of current crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, which unfortunately have not yielded the expected result, in meeting you for deliberation and possible solution.
“The Association has thus decided to take a painful path of embarking on a warning strike with the aim of helping to motivate well-meaning Nigerians and Oyo State indigenes to intervene in resolving the current avoidable crisis.
“The Association is striving to help prevent total destruction of the institution which the current attitude and posture of the government of Oyo State portends.
“This is to hereby give the government of Oyo State a 14- days’ notice starting from this day, the 13th November, 2017, of warning strike that is planned to last 3 days.
“We sincerely hope that the government would act proactively and prevent avoidable morbidity and mortality that the total shutdown of health facilities in the state would cause. You are assured of our highest regards and cooperation. Thanks”, the letter read.
