Trouble Looms As Ogun Doctors Declare 3-Day Warning Strike Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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According to a report by The Nation, doctors in Ogun State under the auspicies of Association of Resident Doctors, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) have declared a three- day warning strike.

The strike begins on Monday after a 21- day ultimatum and another seven-day ultimatum notifying State Government on the needs for appropriate remuneration for doctors in OOUTH as they battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President of the association, Dr. Mutiu Popoola, announced this in a statement titled: Protect and appreciate doctors who put up their lives on line during this pandemic COVID-19 in Shagamu, Ogun State.

He said: “We have been on this struggle for appropriate remuneration for over four years and it is unfortunate that government’s unwilling attitude to the welfare of doctors in OOUTH is unbecoming”.

Popoola said that there has been no commitment whatsoever from the government on the issue of appropriate remuneration, entry level, new minimum wage, hazard allowance and life insurance for our members.

He said that “despite the inadequate response of Ogun State Government to the health risks confronted by our members during this COVID-19 pandemic, our members went ahead to continue their work diligently in their various departments and at the isolation centre.

“We were taken aback by the arbitrary change in only hazard allowance to be given as COVID -19 Special Hazard Allowance to all health workers.

“The 200% increase in Hazard allowance is just an increase from N5000 to N15,000 for just the month of April,” he said.