The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, NAGGMDP, Ondo State branch, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the State Government, ahead of its planned industrial action.
This is contained in a statement by the association’s Chairman, Dr Aina Oluwafemi, after the branch’s emergency meeting on Wednesday in Akure.
NAGGMDP is an affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association, the umbrella body for all general duty doctors engaged by the state’s Ministry offer Health and the Hospitals’ Management Board.
It said, “Government had, through an official press release, social media, and circular to relevant government agencies announced the approval for immediate implementation, the payment of the 50 per cent basic salary as special COVID-19 hazard allowances, for all health workers, three months in the first instance.
“Government failed to implement the said pronouncements when the May salary was paid.
“Rather, doctors observed that their salaries were slashed in May. As much as 2.5 per cent of their consolidated basic salary was removed for reasons best known to the state government.
“Doctors in Ondo State are, as we speak, angry and very low in spirit.
“To this end, the State Executive Council of our association had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Ondo State Government, to tell us, why we have to part with 2.5 per cent of our basic salaries and the unsolicited deduction be refunded with immediate effect.
“We also demand to know the present situation of our ill-fated 50 per cent basic salary as special COVID-19 allowance and the modalities for the immediate implementation of the consequential adjustment of the increment in the minimum wage.
“We also demand to know when our January 2017 salary arrears will be paid and also, the commencement of the regularisation of the skipping salary structure, for the Ondo State Doctors.”
The association’s executive said that it would have no other choice than to abide by the decisions of its Congress, one of which is to embark on strike if the state government fails to meet its stated demands.
- NAN