OOUTH resident doctors begin strike as negotiations collapse

Following the collapse of negotiations with the Ogun State government, resident Doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, have begun strike calling for improved pay collapsed.

The doctors had embarked on a three-day warning strike over the same issue which led to negotiations between them and the state government.

It was learnt that the doctors under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors at the OOUTH  were unable to reach agreements with their employers on some of their demands.

In their letter to  Governor Dapo Abiodun, they claimed the state government was not committed to their welfare.

The letter jointly signed by the union’s president, Dr Popoola Mutiu, and the general secretary, Dr Osundara Tope, said the association had resolved to work only weekdays and stay at home during weekends.

They said they would review the decision depending on the response of the state government.

The doctors however said their members working at the COVID-19 isolation centres would not be part of the strike.

The letter reads partly, “Since the government has chosen to simply rub the issues, without any form of real commitment to begin to treat us fairly, we have resolved to discharge our duties only during working days of the week because of our concern for the people during these trying times. We have decided to stay at home on weekends.

“We hope the state government will wake up to its responsibility and our congress shall review in two weeks, if any worthwhile transformation occurs.

“We have decided to leave our members working directly in the COVID-19 treatment centres to go on with their duties uninterrupted within this additional two-week wait, after which we will reappraise and determine what next.”