Doctors under the aegis of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Ondo State chapter have given a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to address their grievances or face strike.
The NAGGMDP, an affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), issued the ultimatum after an emergency State Executive Council meeting Wednesday.
Chairman of the association, Dr. Aina Oluwafemi, who read the communiqué after the meeting, explained that the state government failed to implement 50 per cent basic salary payment as special COVID-19 hazard allowance for health workers.
He said instead what the health workers got was 2.5 per cent deducted from their consolidated basic salary without explanation.
Oluwafemi noted that doctors were disappointed, perplexed and in distraught that the government could subject them to ridicule and public embarrassment.
He accused the government of refusal to implement consequential adjustment of increment in minimum wage to doctors and other health workers.
Oluwafemi said failure to meet their demands within 14 days would make them revert to congress and any decision reached would be binding on the executives.
But in his reaction, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said issues raised by the doctors are being looked into.
He said: “The sector, no doubt, is a very critical one and Mr. Governor has always expressed his appreciation for their services. If there are issues that require attention, the government will not shy away from such. The responsibilities are mutual and inclusive.”
