By Stephen Adeleye.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) Lokoja, has given 21 Days ultimatum to Kogi State Government to resolved its demands or be ready for indefinite strike from the association.
Recalled that the ARD KSSH had on July 29 suspended its 2-day industrial action after joining the nationwide strike embarked upon by National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), to give room for engagement with the State Government.
The Association gave the ultimatum in a Communique issued at the end of its Emergency Executive Council, signed by ARD KSSH’s President and Secretary General, Dr Ameh Friday, and Dr Peter Samuel, respectively, and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The association gave the State Government 21 days to look into their pressing demands, following which Congress would take a decision on the progress so far.
“The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) today had an EMERGENCY congress meeting to deliberate on the intervention of the State Government in addressing all issues raised under observations in our earlier COMMUNIQUÉ dated 29th of July, 2023 and the progress so far.
“We are requesting for upward review of CONMESS 2014 to CONMESS 2023, and approval of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).
“Review of Hazard allowance as released by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission, 22nd December, 2021, and implementation of Annual Increments, Cash backing of Promotion and Payment of Arrears of both Annual Increments and Promotion,” the communique said.
The association requested for the speedy resolution of their demands in order to restore the moral, psychic and encourage doctors to come work for the state Government as against the current trend characterized by exodus of their members out of the state Work Force to other climes.
The ARD KSSH therefore, gave the State Government 21 days to look into the aforementioned pressing demands, following which the Congress would take a decision on the progress so far.
The communique also copied the Chief Of Staff to the Governor, Accountant General, Auditor General, Commissioner For Finance, Commissioner for Health, Head Of Service, SSG to Kogi State Government, DSS, Kogi Stateaa well as the CMD KSSH.
