Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has condemned the move by the Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD) at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, to embark on a three-week warning strike amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Abiodun while lamenting the development said it is rather disturbing to find out that the doctors could afford down tools at a critical time like this.
While talking to newsmen in Abeokuta he said, “ This is a development I find rather disturbing and I consider it a breach of trust. I think we have engaged our health personnel, not just the doctors, because the doctors are only part of the entire team.”
It would be recalled that the doctors embarked on the industrial action to show their displeasure over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, hazard allowance, inappropriate renumeration, entry-level and absence of life insurance policy.
Though the Secretary-General of the Centre for Society Health Advocacy (CSHA) in a statement urged the Ogun state doctors to call off the strike, but the implementation of that advise is yet to be insight.
The State governor who is not finding the doctors’ action pleasant insisted that it is an action taken at a wrong time.
“We reached an agreement with them; they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was not done under duress. I met with my team and we increased the hazard allowance to 300 per ent. I appreciate them and I also mentioned the fact that we needed to have an opportunity to sit and dialogue.” He said.
While supporting the industrial action, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) stressed that the state government needs to ensure it fulfil its promises and not pay lip service.