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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi has extended the two weeks strike ultimatum given to Kogi Government to meet their demands to Dec. 31, 2017.
The NMA had issued a communique at the end of its State Executive Council Meeting on Nov. 24, given the State Government a two-week ultimatum to redeem the promises entered by both parties in June 2017 to meet their demands.
Dr Godwin Tijani, the Chairman of Kogi NMA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja, that the extension was due to the reassurances from the Government to meet their demands before Dec. 31.
Tijani said: “Following the reassurances from the Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna, who was present at the Emergency Congress Meeting (ECM) of our association on Friday Dec. 8, with other top Government officials.
“Congress resolved to extend the ultimatum to Dec. 31, 2017, for the actualization of those promises.
“However, with effect from Jan. 1, 2018, NMA will be left with no option but to commence total withdrawal of services in all hospitals in Kogi, if the issues are not properly addressed by the Government on or before Dec. 31.
“The Kogi NMA appreciates the commissioner for Health, the Special Adviser on Health Matters, and the Medical Elders for their role to ensuring industrial harmony in the health sector”.
Tijani lamented that the conditions of doctors working with the Kogi Government had further deteriorated as old lingering issues were yet to be addressed.
He highlighted the issues to include: “The eight doctors that were cleared over three months ago are yet to be paid their 11 to 12 months backlog salary arrears.
“Failure to correct the salary underpayment of doctors in the Hospital Management Board (HMB); Continous implementation of new tax regime without commensurate implementation of staff promotion and annual increment.
“Non-implementation of adjusted Consolidated Medical Salary Sale and Skipping; All cleared doctors are now being owed four to five months backlog of salaries.
“All newly employed doctors have not received any salary since resumption of duty in August 2017; and the planned application of Clocking System to pay doctor’s salary without understanding the nitty-gritty of the doctor’s duty schedule”.
(NAN)
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