The leadership of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital has stalled in joining the ongoing industrial strike action for the mean time.
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Resident doctors at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), on Tuesday, indicated their readiness to join the ongoing strike by their national body, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), adding that their joining the strike was put on hold by the ongoing accreditation of Surgery Department which is expected to end on Wednesday.
Normal activities was going on at various wards in the hospital as observed by Daily Sun reporter, on Tuesday, with doctors and other medical personnel attending to patients.
President of EKSUTH chapter of NARD, Dr. Tunji Olaoye, said resident doctors at the hospital would down tools from Thursday because of poor welfare.
Olaoye revealed that the Ekiti State Government which owns the hospital was owing resident doctors six months arrears of salaries which he said has made life difficult for them.
The EKSUTH NARD boss said apart from arrears of salaries owed, doctors are not being placed appropriately which is affecting their career progression.
Olaoye said: “We are joining the strike on Thursday after the ongoing accreditation exercise might have ended on Wednesday. We want to appeal to our ptients to bear with us.
“The problem with us in Nigeria is that we are not sensitive to issues that affect workers. Several ultimatums were issued but no response from the government until the action began.
“When somebody is not well taken care of how do you expect him to give his best? Resident doctors are just a segment of medical workers, we have consultants on ground and other health workers.
“Most of the times, we don’t jump to strikes but the resolution depends on the government and as soon as government meets our demands, we will return to work.”