Doctors in Ondo State may embark on strike over unpaid allowances

If the state government of Ondo State does not examine the hazard allowance of its members, the Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association has warned to take industrial action.

While the state government has approved an increase in the hazard allowance provided to doctors working in government-owned hospitals in the state, the National Medical Association (NMA) has expressed frustration that the increase has not yet been implemented.

As reported by The PUNCH, Dr. Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, chairman of the Ondo NMA, said that the state government had agreed to pay the money this week, and that if they didn’t, it may lead to more industrial action.

If the revised stipend is not paid by this Friday, he says, members of the group may not think twice about going on strike.

A shortage of people, he noted, is just one of Ondo NMA’s many problems. The state government, according to recent reports, plans to hire more than a thousand health care professionals. No one seems to know when the hiring process will start. We also face difficulties with our allowances, which were recently reviewed and found wanting; prior to the review, the hazard allowance had been revised upward, from N5,000 to N6,000 per month for doctors.

Even though the federal government has evaluated and authorised this measure, it has not yet been implemented in Ondo State. We were told that this would happen, but so far we have not seen it take effect. We are still waiting for the government’s promised circular on the establishment, which was communicated to us last Friday via the Permanent Secretary on establishment.

The state’s NMA confirmed the occurrence of the ‘japa’ syndrome in the health sector and stated that this development necessitated the government to improve the welfare of the remaining health workers in the state.

We cannot stop doctors, chemists and others from leaving Ondo State for a more developed country; after all, it is their human right to migrate. However, we have discussed with the government the factors that are driving them away, and they have agreed that we need competitive allowances and salaries in order to attract and retain medical professionals here.

To paraphrase, “I want to tell the government that if we do not have that circular by the end of this week, well, it would not be bad for the Ondo State Nigeria Medical Association of doctors to go on strike by the end of this week if we do not have the circular for the implementation of the hazard allowance in Ondo State.” “The federal workers have been enjoying this since last year; as of December 2021, the Federal Government has cleared all the federal workers’ allowance, they have paid t

Adeyemi-Osowe also relayed a warning from the National President of the NMA, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, not to disparage Nigeria’s medical professionals.

The Nigerian doctor Ojinmah quoted added, “We utilise this platform to respectfully issue a note of warning to everyone and sundry to never try to drag Nigerian doctors down in any way, but to always follow proper process if offended or in discharging their responsibilities. The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria is the statutory authority charged with investigating and responding to complaints against Nigerian medical professionals.

To the Minister of Women’s Affairs: “The NMA expresses her displeasure at the recent media trial of some healthcare workers.” We find that kind of conduct beneath someone in your position of authority.