By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) has began an indefinite strike over non-payment of four months’ salary.
Legal officers at the Ministry of Justice, on the platform of Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), also withdrew services over what they termed worsening despicable and deplorable conditions they were subjected to.
The strike began on Monday November 9, 2020.
Recall that last week, the UNIMEDTH ARD embarked on a three-day warning strike with a threat to totally down tools if their demands were not met.
Acting ARD President, Ondo State chapter, Dr. Sanni Oriyomi, had said that they could no longer pretend that all was well.
He said that besides the non-payment of salaries, there were also issues of dearth of doctors and house officers.
Oriyomi said the COVID-19 hazard allowance was paid for only one month and that the resident doctors sought accommodation for themselves instead of living in houses provided by the management.
According to him, the absence of house officers was affecting the health of his members.
Oriyomi said: “Having persevered to render services, our salary has become issue of concern. We are finding it difficult to meet up with our financial obligations.
“We urge the government to come up with a solution. It’s not in our interest to embark on this strike, but enough is enough.”
Ondo ARD spokesman, Dr. Taiwo Olaigbe, said that the state health system was on the brink of collapse.
He said that they would not return to work until their salaries were paid.