Medical doctors in Ogun State have embarked on an indefinite strike due to pay disparity between federal and state medical workers.
Dr. Azeem Ashimi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association in the state, declared the industrial action on Tuesday in Abeokuta, explaining that the decision to proceed on an indefinite strike came after a failed three-day warning strike.
According to Ashimi, the strike, which began as a warning on Saturday, is primarily aimed at addressing the salary differences between federal and state medical workers.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to reach a compromise with the government,” Ashimi said.
“The government continues to plead that the issues of minimum wage and other related matters are common, but my people believe that we need to address the issues on the ground.
“The core of the doctors’ grievances lies in the reviewed CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure), which they believe should be implemented to stem the exodus of medical professionals from Ogun State.
“Ogun State is losing a lot of doctors daily, because of the pay disparity. If the reviewed CONMESS is paid, it will encourage the doctors to stay.”
Ashimi believes that Ogun State has the capacity to address the doctors’ demands and ensure the strike is not lengthy.
“We believe strongly that if the government can promise to pay this money in due time through a memorandum of understanding, we can go back to work. Verbal promises have often led to doubts, hence the need for something penned down,” he noted.
In efforts to encourage medical personnel to remain in the state, the NMA said it has undertaken various initiatives over the past two years.
“We have recorded achievements aimed at helping doctors feel a sense of belonging in the community,” Ashimi said.
“We’ve facilitated access to land for housing, started a co-operative society for savings, and other measures.
“However, aligning the state workers’ pay with federal workers’ pay would go a long way in encouraging doctors to remain.
“I attended a meeting on human resources for health and I’m not happy with the way doctors are leaving Nigeria, especially from the state where I practise and where I’m the Chairman of NMA. People are leaving in droves.”
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