RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE END OF THE GENERAL CONGRESS MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENT DOCTORS, FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE (FMC), LOKOJA, HELD AT THE ARD LOUNGE ON THE 12TH OCTOBER, 2015

 

PREAMBLE 

As a follow-up to the last inconclusive General Congress Meeting held exactly a week ago, on 5th October, 2015, at the NUJ press centre, Lokoja, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC Lokoja held a General Congress Meeting today 12th October, 2015 at the ARD lounge, FMC Lokoja lasting about 4 hours. The day marked 4 months into the industrial action embarked upon by the Association in the Centre.

The meeting was convened with a view to, amongst other things, review and deliberate on issues relating to the on-going strike action by the Association, especially as it relates to the feedback from the management regarding the observations and resolutions reached at the last congress meeting, and the worsening plights of helpless patients within Kogi State and its environs. 

 

OBSERVATIONS 

After an exhaustive deliberation and thorough reassessment, the congress made the following observations:

1. Our members on GIFMIS payment platform are still being owed one month salary arrears without any official commitment from the management regarding when it would be paid

2. Despite the Association’s magnanimity in accepting to collect the 25 percent of the skipping emolument for now, the management has refused to officially commit itself to its continued payment and subsequent improvement in the current percentage with time.

3. The management is not forthcoming in sponsorships vis-à-vis payment of Updates, Exams and Workshops fees, and is owing our members’ cumulative backlog of arrears which they have only given verbal assurance to paying. 

4. The injustice in the selective implementation of the circular on removal of Teaching Allowance (4th July, 2014. Ref: SWC/S/04/S.176/T/73) to only House officers still persists after 11 months with the non-clinical staff of the Hospital still enjoying same.

5.  Despite the practical feasibility of the congress demands from the last general congress meeting duly presented to the management, no official feedback or commitment was extracted from them. 

6. The congress considered this attitude an utter disregard and a mark of disrespect to the Association, and a demonstration of the unchanging stance of the management even under critical situations.

 

RESOLUTIONS

The followings were the resolutions reached:

1. That the 123 day old strike action embarked on by the Association of Resident Doctors, FMC Lokoja, is hereby suspended while negotiations continue. 

2. Consequent upon this, members are to resume work by 8am on Wednesday, 14th October, 2015.

3. In reaching this decision, due consideration was given to the worsening healthcare needs in the State as well as elderly interventions of a few senior colleagues and well-meaning respectable individuals within the State and beyond.

4. No member of the Association should be victimised, harassed or intimidated following this legitimate nation-wide agitation.

5. However, this decision to suspend the industrial action is only in the interim as the management is being given a period of 4 weeks to effectively address the issues raised above.

6. The Congress will reconvene in 4 weeks’ time to review palpable evidence that management has addressed these issues; failure of which this decision to suspend the strike action will be reconsidered    

 

APPRECIATION

The Association duly recognise and appreciate the plights and understanding of our patients, the resoluteness and doggedness of our members, and the interventions of well-meaning and highly placed individuals within the State and beyond. 

We also cherish the priceless contributions and interventions of some of our highly respected senior colleagues within the hospital and the leadership of National Association of Resident Doctors.

We also acknowledge the understanding of the various Heads of Departments in the hospital. Special thanks to the leadership of the MDCAN and the State NMA. We also hold in high esteem the support of the NUJ press centre, Lokoja, and the State Security Service, Kogi state.

 

Thank you.

Signed: 

Dr. Chikezie Justice O. (President) 

Dr. Mohammed Umoru F. (Gen. Secretary)