Ondo doctors suspend strike

The indefinite industrial action embarked upon by medical doctors under the aegis of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) in Ondo state, to press home their demand for the payment of their five months salary has been suspended.

The Chairman of the association in the state, Dr Ismaila Busari, who made this disclosure while briefing journalists in Akure, Ondo state capital, said the strike was suspended after the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, assured them that all the backlog of salaries will be paid soon.

Busari said “the state government had perfected plans to start payment of salaries from February 2017 with an assurance that the salary will be paid before on 10th of March 2017.”

The chairman disclosed that the governor also assured the association that the March salary would be paid two weeks after the payment of the February salary.

He said ” that with effect from March 2017 the monthly salaries will be paid regularly and as at when due and a committee led by the Deputy governor had been set up to deliberate on the modalities for the payment of the six months salary arrears.

The chairman who noted that member of association have been going through the toughest time as a result of the accumulated unpaid salaries but said there suffering of the masses who have been at the receiving end necessitated the need to call off the industrial action.

He said ” that the suffering masses are at the receiving of the either of service by our members. We hereby came to the conclusion that the withdrawal of services should be suspended effective from Wednesday 15th March 2017”

He said the association took the decision as “we are holding the governor in high esteem and upon your honour with assurance that we are fully committed to giving the state our best services while looking forward to full implementation of the items listed above from the state government.”

The doctors in the state have embarked on industrial action since February 6, following the nonpayment of their five months salary by the state government.