Lagos Doctors Issue 21-Day Ultimatum Over Unpaid Salary Arrears

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Monday, January 5th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun, Lagos – The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has issued a 21-day ultimatum as deadline to the state government to pay doctors, under its employment the August and September 2014 salaries.

The ultimatum was given in a statement issued by the State’s NMA Chairman, Dr Tope Ojo.

He said if the government failed to yield to the Doctors’ demands, the association and the Medical Guild doctors working in the state’s hospitals would withdraw their services.

The statement complained that the State Government had held back, the August and September emoluments of its doctors under its “no work, no pay policy”, when doctors in its employment involved in the last year nationwide doctors strike.

Dr. Ojo threatened that the Medical Guild would proceed to withdraw their services after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, if all issues were not resolved, yet, it “strongly advised that the state government should embrace amicable resolution” to avoid impending crisis in the heath sector of the state.”

The State NMA Chairman lamented that Lagos State Government stands alone, as all the states of the Federation, including FCT, Abuja had since complied with the general agreement that salaries should be paid to doctors who participated in the last year NMA strike.

As a way of pressing for the pay, Dr. Ojo pointed out that the state NMA has approached the State House of Assembly, Commissioner for Health as well as sent many correspondences to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for a peaceful resolution on the matter.

He regretted all efforts have proved abortive hence the imminent strike threat.