Resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan chapter are set to join their counterparts in Nigeria to embark on an indefinite strike.
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Dr. Olusegun Olaopa, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital, Ibadan chapter, on Wednesday said resident doctors in the hospital would commence an indefinite strike on September 4.
Olaopa, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan, said the decision was in line with a directive from the National Executive Council of the National Association of Resident Doctors.
He said members of the association in UCH had been mobilised to commence the industrial action until the Federal Government accedes to the demands of the national body.
Olaopa said the national body of the association had, in a statement, directed all members to begin indefinite strike as from Monday, September 4, 2017.
“The association has resolved to proceed on an indefinite industrial action from Monday, September 4, 2017, until all these issues are permanently resolved.
“So, in compliance with this directive, all resident doctors in UCH will join their counterparts in Nigeria to embark on an indefinite strike,” he said.
Olaopa said the strike notice was signed by Dr. John Onyebueze and Dr. Aneke Emmanuel, the National President and Secretary, National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, respectively.
According to him, neither the federal nor the state government has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake, nor have they honoured the previous agreements with the doctors.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that among issues being agitated by NARD include persistent shortfall and unpaid arrears of salaries in both federal and state tertiary health institutions.
Another issue raised was the enrolment of resident doctors into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System since 2003.
The doctors are also complaining about the stagnation of promotion and non-promotion of members who have met the requisite criteria; and non-implementation of adjusted House Officers’ Entry grade level equivalent since 2014.
NAN also reports that resident doctors in UCH had, on January 6, 2017 embarked on a day’s protest rally over nonpayment of their November and December 2016 salaries.