The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), has warned of an impending crisis at the hospital, over issues of non-payment of its December and January salaries, non payment of “Skipping Allowance”, high taxes on salaries and allowances, poor quality of call duty food and poor state of call duty rooms.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) LUTH, who stated this over the weekend, accused LUTH management of insensitivity over their plight, as they are daily confronted with great odds in the effective discharge of their duties caused by derelict infrastructure and equipment and chronically inadequate consumables in the hospital. Speaking to Health Writers in Lagos, LUTH ARD President Dr. Afolabi Akinkunmi said the Doctors now groan under unpaid salaries and members have resorted to begging to pay their house rents, examination fees, others. The Cardiologist, who blamed the Hospital’s management for their plight said they could not understand why their December and January salaries was being withheld, even as their counterparts elsewhere have been paid. “Our members have through dint of hard work and ‘a never say die attitude’ kept the hospital running and making quality healthcare available to Nigerians, yet we are not paid salaries.
“In a sad replay of unfortunate events of December 2014, our December 2015 and January 2016 salaries have been withheld. The management has often cited the ‘annual mopping up’ exercise by the OAGF for the nonpayment of our December 2015 salaries through a circular reference no TH/ ACCT/D27/27. Another contradiction was a text message from the Chief Medical Director (CMD), stating that the delay in December salaries was due to a shortfall in personnel emoluments in 2015 yet no official reason has been offered for the delay in January salary. Dr. Akinkunmi, said despite the harrowing experience, the Doctors have remained committed and steadfast to their duties, but added that they have now reached their elastic limit. “It is a fact that almost all the federal Teaching Hospitals have gotten December 2015 salaries while a significant number have also received January 2016 salaries, so why is ours different? “We have not also been receiving our expected salaries according to appropriate grade level placement with arrears accruing from January 2014 based on the 2013 circular reference “HCSF/ EPO/EIR/63755/T1/195’’ and the Memorandom of Understanding (MoU) between our association and LUTH management.”
Akinkunmi, however appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari, Health Minister and LUTH management to ensure prompt payment of their salaries and put smiles on their faces and prevent the impending crisis in the hospital. Responding to this, LUTH CMD, Prof. Christopher Bode, insists the January salary has been paid and the ARD members received their salaries from the Federal Government in the night of Thursday 4th February, 2016. He explained that the delay in payment of December Salaries was due to shortfall in personnel emoluments in 2015, while stressing that efforts are being made to convince Government to return doctors to the IPPIS payment platform.
“The current fund paucity is nationwide and I thank you for your patience while Government strives to remedy the situation. We have been assured December, 2015 payments will also be made as soon as possible”. On the payment of “Skipping Allowance”, he said Skipping is a national issue, which the ARD and NMA should take up with various governmental levels through lobbying.
By: Franka Osakwe
Nationl Mirror News
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