Doctors ask Aregbesola to withdraw sack threat

The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners has asked Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to withdraw the threat to sack doctors who are currently on strike.

The President NAGG.MDP, Dr. Nurud-din Akindele, said this on Osogbo on Thursday at a press conference addresses the association to react o the seven day ultimatum given the doctors on December 18.

Members of Association of Resident Doctors and doctors in state government owned hospitals have been on strike since September 28 over salary issues.

The state government has been paying all workers 50 per cent of their salaries since June but the doctors said they wanted the state government to reach an agreement on when to pay the balance.

Akindele said “The government of Osun State should as a matter of urgency and in the interest of the public, invest in equipping the hospitals with up-to-date equipment, provide adequate manpower and make the work environment more conducive.

“Government should withdraw their threat of sacking the doctors who are only demanding that which is their legitimate rights under labour laws.

“Government should put in place appropriate machineries to address the issues listed as a matter of urgency and in public interest.

“Failure of government to do the listed may result in us having no choice than to mobilise all doctors in all health institutions such as teaching hospitals, private hospitals and local government hospitals in Osun State to embark on a total and indefinite withdrawal of service.”

The NAGG called on citizens of the state to prevail on Aregbesola to drop the threat or be ready for a total and indefinite strike by all doctors throughout the state.

The Nigerian Medical Association in the state had earlier threatned to paralyse the health sector in the state should the governor carry out his threat to sack the striking doctors.

The chairman of the NMA in Osun State, Dr. Suraj Ogunyemi, said doctors were not part of the memorandum of understanding signed between the state government and the Nigeria Labour Congress on payment of half salaries.

Ogunyemi said, “The NMA has put all doctors in the state both in private and public sectors on the red alert and the state government should not take our tolerance and endurance for weakness.