HEALTH: Kogi State Govt. threatens to sack staff who participate in doctors’ strike

                           
The Kogi State Government yesterday threatened to terminate the appointment of any of its staff, under its health sector, that participates in the ongoing indefinite strike by doctors in the state.
The State’s acting Head of Service, Mrs. Kehinde Lawal, made the
threat in a circular she signed in Lokoja yesterday, saying the state government would also adopt the policy of ‘no work no pay’ for any doctor on strike.

Mrs. Lawal further said government was doing its best to make sure that all the salary arrears of officers cleared by the screening committee would be paid within the shortest time possible.


“It is equally noteworthy for every union to realise that the best way to resolve any issue is through peaceful dialogue and not strike action.“In view of the foregoing, any staff of Kogi State Government that decides to go on strike is hereby notified that such person will have his/her job at stake.
“The policy of ‘no work, no pay’ will be adopted for any worker that embarks on strike action,” she said.According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has directed its members to embark on indefinite strike over the state government’s failure to pay their salaries, among other demands.

Barely 48 hours into the strike, health activities have been grounded in most state government-owned hospitals.A visit the state Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, showed that the ever-busy hospital had few or no patients.

One of the patients, Mrs. Jumai Usman, said no doctor was on ground to attend to her, forcing many patients to patronise private hospitals.She urged the state government and the NMA to dialogue and reach mutual agreement to save the lives of patients, especially the poor, who could not afford the high cost of bills at the private hospitals.

Source: The Guardian

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