Osun doctors embark on seven-day warning strike

The Osun State Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), on Monday, ordered its members working with the state government to proceed on a seven-day warning strike over unpaid salary arrears and poor working condition.
State NMA Chairman, Dr Tokunbo Olajumoke, gave the directive after an emergency general meeting of the association in Osogbo.
Olajumoke said the 7-day warning strike was coming after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the government by the association to meet its demands.
“The seven-day warning strike is to commence immediately because the 21-day ultimatum issued to the state government to look into the pending issues raised by the doctors has expired.
“Within that seven days, there will not be any form of clinical activities in all the state- owned hospitals and no doctor is allowed to treat any patient for that seven days.”
Olajumoke stressed that the warning strike was to allow the government to engage the doctors in a dialogue to look into their demands.
Other demands by the doctors are nonpayment of CONMESS salary scale, over taxation, mutilated and outstanding salaries of doctors, among others.
Reacting to the strike, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu lsamotu, appealed to the doctors to be patient with the state government , saying their requests are being looked into.
Isamotu said the government was committed to providing quality healthcare delivery for the masses as well as ensuring that the doctors get the best from the government.