The National Medical Association, NMA, Kogi State Chapter has directed its members to sustain the industrial action embarked upon by the association until the State Government respond to their demands.
The association also directed that all Federal and Private health centres in the State will be shut down; bringing a total breakdown in the health sectors of the state.
This was the resolution of the association reached at the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held at NUJ press centre, Lokoja on Wednesday.
The resolution which was contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday and signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Dr Tijani Godwin and Dr Zubair Kabiru respectively said the State Government has remained adamant to respond to the agreement reached with the association over their salaries payment.
They also listed as part of their grievances the compulsory retirement of some experienced medical officers without any cogent reason.
The communiqué reads in parts, “That the ongoing industrial action be sustained until our minimum demands are met, which are the payment of the balance of 40 percent salaries arrears from August to December, 2017; payment of 100 percent salaries and arrears for January to February 2018 as well as the implementation of revised CONMES.
“That henceforth, all health care centres in the state should remain shut until our minimum demands are met. That our members in the FMC, Lokoja should proceed on sympathy strikes on the first three days of every month until our demands are met.
“All private healthcare facilities in the state will subsequently be shut down if there is no response from the Kogi state government in the next few days.”
The association said it should not be held responsible for any consequences that may result from the strike, stressing that the State Government has had adequate time to avert this crisis but did nothing.
