Resident doctors at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Abeokuta, Ogun state, on Friday commenced a five-day warning strike to agitate for better health-care conditions.
DAILY POST reports that the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, had announced the industrial action after what he described as government inaction on long-standing demands.
Odunbaku in a statement signed on Friday, titled, ‘Declaration of strike action’, explained the five-day warning strike followed the expiration of an ultimatum to the Federal Government over unpaid allowances, salary arrears and unresolved welfare issues.
Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, a Senior Registrar at FMC, Abeokuta and President of ARD in the centre, Dr. Adegboyega Ridwan, noted that they commenced the strike at about 8:00 am on Friday morning.
He listed the outstanding issues to include the non-payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund, MRTF, which affects more than 2,000 resident doctors nationwide — including those at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Ridwan said, “We commenced our strike with effect from 8 a.m. this morning due to certain demands we presented to the Federal Government, and by extension some state governments.
“Some of these demands had been promised, some affirmed to an extent, but suddenly they are not forthcoming from the part of government.
“This is a warning strike. After five days, we will review the situation. It could even be shorter if the government meets some of our immediate demands.”
Other grievances include unpaid arrears, delays in implementing the reviewed consolidated salary structure, and failure to honor earlier agreements.
DAILY POST gathered that FMC Abeokuta has about 400 doctors, out of which over 350 are resident doctors participating in the strike.
Ridwan while confirming this disclosed that arrangements have been made to minimize patients’ suffering as they have considered admissions, patient management and referrals, to ensure patients are not abandoned.
“We had given a 21-day ultimatum, extended it by 10 days, and even added 24 hours before taking this step. We considered admissions, patient management, and referrals carefully to ensure patients are not abandoned.
“Consultants, nurses, and some doctors outside ARD are still on ground to offer basic care, but the impact of this action will still be felt,” he added.
