Medical doctors in the employ of Lagos State Government, have embarked on a three-day warning strike.
According to the chairman, Medical Guild, Lagos State chapter, Dr ‘Biyi Kufo, the decision was taken after several appeals, ultimatum and notices to the state government were to no avail.
“The Guild had been in discussion with the administration on these issues for more than two years, following a strike in April and May, 2012, when the No Work, No Pay policy was applied to members of the Guild, despite the fact that the circular, backing the policy, was written two months after the strike action,” the statement read in part.
Other specific issues include, the continued engagement of doctors as casual workers, (young doctors just commencing employment, with no career path); the suspension of the training of resident doctors in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH); and the retrospective and selective application of the administration?s No Work, No Pay policy to members of the Guild.
Kufo said, “The No Work, No Pay policy was not applied to any of the groups, ASUU; ASUP; teachers; magistrates; judiciary workers and the Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU) who embarked on strike between May, 2012 and July, 2014, with many of the strikes lasting far longer than the Guild?s strike. It was, however, applied again when members of the Guild joined a national strike of the Nigerian Medical Association in July and August, 2014.
“It appeared as if the administration intended to push the Guild into a strike, a situation we wanted to avoid, as we believed such an action would only affect the less privileged and the general public, whom we serve,” Kufo added.
The Guild, however, directed that a three-day warning strike, to press home these demands, should commence at 8:00 am Wednesday, February 18 to 8:00 am on Saturday, February 21, 2015.
