Doctors suspend 7-day warning strike

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September 26, 2017 3:51 PM

The association said the strike became necessary because of the poor condition of facilities in state hospitals and poor welfare.

The Osun Chapter of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), on Tuesday directed its members working with state government to resume work after a seven-day warning strike over salary arrears and poor working condition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the doctors began the strike on Sept. 18.

The directive for resumption of work is contained in a communiqué jointly signed by the NMA Chairman, Dr Tokunbo Olajumoke and Secretary, Olalekan Ajayi.

It said that the strike was suspended due to the intervention of well meaning stakeholders, who assured the association that the state government would address their grievances.

According to the communiqué, the poor facilities have affected the quality of health care services rendered to citizens and had negatively affected the health indices of the state.

“Osun had experienced an unprecedented brain drain in the health sector as a result of the various unimaginable welfare challenges facing doctors in the employment of the state which had caused an alarming instability in the sector,” the association stated.

NAN reports that some of the issues in contention include “inappropriate and demeaning remuneration”, withholding of four to six months doctors emoluments, over taxation among others.

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