…accuse Makinde of breach of agreement
SOJI AJIBOLA, IBADAN
Association of Medical and Dental Officers, Oyo State, has embarked on an indefinite strike action with effect from Saturday.
The Association blamed the strike on breach of agreement on the part of the Oyo State Government led by Governor Seyi Makinde.
Chairman of the Association, Ajibolu Adeniran Oke, made this known in a circular issued at the weekend, a copy of which was made a available to FirstNews.
The Industrial action, as contained in the circular, came after the expiration of 21-day ultimatum issued since June 2020 but which was suspended after medical doctors were asked to give Governor Makinde enough time to settle down in office.
The circular reads, “The Association of Medical and Dental Officers in Oyo State (AMDO), reviewed her stand on the suspended industrial action in which a 21-day ultimatum notice was given to Government of Oyo State on 15/06/2020 but was suspended to honour His Excellency-Engineer Seyi Abiodun Makinde-The Governor of Oyo State.
“Another industrial action was suspended in December, 2020 and a 6-week ultimatum notice was issued to the state Government on 24th December 2020 on the ground that the demands would have been met by 4th February, 2021.
“We suspended the proposed December 2020 imdustrial action and had waited till the moment for our demands to be met, but are still largely unmet.”
According to the statement, the striking doctors’ demands include:
1. That 2019 CONMESS be implemented in Oyo State with arrears from August 2020. (LAUTECH is already enjoying this with Skipping as we speak).
2. That each Unit or it’s equivalent in our facilities is expected to have a minimum of eight Medical/Dental Officers (Doctors) or facilities be merged together to achieve this expected minimum number of Doctors. The situation of one Doctor per General Hospital /Dental centre or no Doctor at all in a General Hospital / Dental centre is no longer acceptable.
3. That Doctors with additional qualifications for example, Postgraduate Diplomas holders, Post Part-1 Doctors and Masters of Public Health holders be advanced with immediate effect.That Post-Part 2 Doctors be appointed as Consultants.
4. That promotions should be done as and when due, otherwise, when promotions are done at a later date than supposed, Government must pay arrears of the promotion accordingly.
5. That Medical Practitioners on GL-15, 16 and 17 be paid Specialists allowance in recognition of their expertise, experience and years of service as reflected and recognized by the scheme of service.
6. That Medical Doctors in administrative positions in Oyo State be paid their salaries with CONMESS.
7. That Medical Doctors who retire on GL 16 & 17 be given their last basic salary as pensions according to circular 1 of 1991.
8. That rural allowance be restored to rural facilities.That administrative allowance be given to all heads of Hospitals.
9. That the arbitrary and outrageous tax being charged on our salaries be reviewed downwards accordingly. Also Pay-slips must be issued every month to members by the accounts Unit of each facility.
10. The renewed ultimatum of 6weeks given to Government in December 2020 lapses on 8:00am on Friday 5th February 2021.”