Resident doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State have embarked on an indefinite strike over some issues. The action began last Friday

 

The president, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), UCH branch, Dr. Lukman Ogunjinmi, said his colleagues embarked on the strike based on two issues, bordering on casualisation of medical officers and the refusal of the management to honour a circular issued by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation on doctors’ welfare.

 

His words: “The reasons we are on strike are clear. What we are against is casualisation. We want skipping to be implemented as directed by the Federal Government in circulars issued by the Head of Service of the Federation and that issued by the Ministry of Health.

 

“The Federal Government, in the circular, said a particular grade level should be skipped by all health workers. It has been done for all other health workers while some centres have started implementing it for doctors. This is backed up. Here in UCH, it has not been done.

 

“We have engaged the management for more than seven months on this issue. The management claimed that they have a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and they have not been able to show the circular. We have told them that the Federal Government has issued it. Now, it is not the problem of the Federal Government has directed them to do it. it is now left for them to do,” he said.

 

Ogunjinmi noted that the association was still rendering skeletal services, especially in the Intensive Care and Special Care, adding that the strike was not to attack people, but to ensure adequate delivery of service to people.

 

 

He also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on government agencies and the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Temitope Alonge, to ensure that justice was done.

 

The Publicity Secretary of ARD in UCH, Dr.  Olusegun Olaopa, said the association has about 600 members, adding that they began the strike at 8a.m last Friday. He said, “on the letters of medical officers that were newly employed, the management put a clause, which the CMD claimed that he was not aware, that after three years, their appointments which are supposed to be permanent, will be terminated if they don’t get residency placement in UCH or any other place.”

 

Reacting, Prof Alonge said the issue of casualisation did not exist. He described it as an internal issue, which had been resolved immediately when the attention of the management was drawn to it.

 

On skipping, Alonge stated that the management received a circular from the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) that it should be embarked upon, adding that non-doctors usually skip Grade Level 10.

 

“For us, the issue of salaries and wages that are due to workers is not the prerogative of ministries. It is the prerogative of the National Salary and Wages Commission. So, the issue of employment resides in the Head of Service. But the issue of salaries rests on the National Salary and Wages Commission.

 

“I sent out a circular last week that there is nothing like skipping for medical and dental officers. The medical and dental officers refer to doctors and dentists. It doesn’t mean you are a medical officer in that respect. It includes resident doctors and consultants.

 

“In the circular that we have from the National Salary and Wages Commission, there is nothing like skipping for doctors. So, whatever conflict that has arisen, the only body that is empowered to provide an answer is the commission. If we have a letter from the commission, they would have communicated with the Budget and Budget would have honoured that in our personnel appropriation and then we can begin to pay. You don’t pay what you don’t have,” he said.

 

By: OLUSEYE OJO and JAMES UDOH,