The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, doctors on Monday commenced a strike action over poor conditions of service and nonpayment of their 2016 and 2017 salary arrears.
The chairman, Ayobami Alabi and secretary, Taiwo Alatishe, of the institution’s chapter of the Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) in a statement announced the commencement of the industrial action on Monday, saying that their decision to shut down their service in the institution was based on a congress resolution arrived at after the expiration of an ultimatum they issued earlier.
The association stated that it had critically observed the situation in the hospital and there was no definite assurance that the issues in contention would soon be resolved either partly or wholly, noting that it had made efforts to safeguard the hospital from total collapse and reposition it for better training, research, and services for which it was established.
The MDCAN maintained that the continued non-payment of salaries of its members recently employed is unacceptable, and decried the “delay and difficulty in payment of 2016 to 2017 salary arrears by the management.”
The association further identified some other contentious issues to include shortage of manpower across the different cadres of doctors, including consultants, specialists across various fields, resident doctors, specialists in training and house officers.
It stated that “The persistent inability of hospital management to employ doctors and other staff hinged on the excuse of the paucity of funds, has led to failure in expanding the scope of training and services.’’
MDCAN also decried the decadence in infrastructure, equipment and facilities, which it stated was making the hospital operate below the optimal standard expected of a teaching hospital.
The association listed the poor conditions of service in the institution to include lack of basic facilities including offices for consultants and non-response from management despite years of appeals.
It noted that the withdrawal of service “is done to safeguard the hospital from total collapse and to reposition it for better training, research, and services for which it was established.
“The board of the hospital failed to respond appropriately and satisfactorily to all these challenges over the years despite our various engagements, tolerance and show of understanding.
“This treatment is anti-labour. It is also considered inhumane with the attending psychological and emotional trauma.’’
According to MDCAN, it was becoming impracticable for the hospital’s management to provide basic amenities for effective service delivery.