Kogi State Doctors Begin Indefinite Strike.

 
Doctors in Kogi state Wednesday have gone on indefinite strike to push the government to pay outstanding salaries and arrears.

An emergency congress of the Nigerian Medical Association held on Tuesday amidst disappointment that the government failed to meet their demands.
The strike announcement came in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency congress in Lokoja, which was signed by the chairman and secretary of the association, Dr Tijani Godwin and Dr Zubair Kabiru, respectively.
The doctors allege that the government had failed to clear nine doctors after providing necessary documents as required by the screening committee, under-payment of salaries and arrears of doctors that have been paid, implementation of a new tax regime without commensurate promotion and stepping of doctors in the state civil service, and advertisement for employment of more doctors, despite the inability of the administration to implement adjusted Consolidation Medical Salary (CONMESS).
The NMA warned doctors who may decide to pick up employment with the state government to be cautious, noting that not all currently in its workforce have been so paid and that the government has not also implemented the adjusted CONMESS.
They demanded that state government should "retain and pay the arrears of all the doctors employed in 2015 as they have waited patiently while providing healthcare service in the state for over 15 months without salaries.
The association called on the government to return the new tax regime to status quo, or promote doctors accordingly before implementation, just as they called for uniform taxation for all the doctors in the Kogi State Civil Service.

The Governor urged NMA not to "declare war on the state", saying their primary responsibility is to save lives and ensure the healthcare of the people of the state.
"Our doors are always open. We will always listen to the unionists. We believe in inclusiveness but we will not hesitate to take drastic decisions that will help the people of our dear state," he said.
The Governor thanked members of the Nigerian Medical Association for their patience and cooperation with his administration, urging them to seize the cordial relationship between them and the government to explore negotiation as a peaceful means of resolving industrial disputes.
He said his administration would continue to work with the doctors to achieve his goals on healthcare for the people of Kogi State.

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