Doctors strike in osun:Aregbesola seeks replacement for striking doctors, NMA warns doctors against applying for Osun jobs

 

 

The Osun State government has advertised vacancies at hospitals in the state, a move apparently aimed at getting replacement for doctors, who are currently on strike.

The advertisement, which was signed by Sunday Olajide on behalf of the Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, was aired on the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation.

The broadcast led many to conclude that Governor  Rauf Aegbesola had sacked the striking doctors, who went on strike since since September 28, 2015.

The  state government had threatened to fire the doctors if they failed to resume work on Friday.

The governor said on Thursday that the civil service rule to effect that would be implemented on Monday but that did not happen.

The President of the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH, Dr. Adeyinka Owolabi, when contacted told our correspondent on the telephone that he also listened to the advert.

He said, “We are still on strike. Nothing has changed but I heard on the television- government advertising vacancies of doctors. They are promising them the stipends that we are rejecting.

“We have approached the court before this and we are  waiting for the date of the hearing of the matter.”

The doctors rejected half salaries which the state government is paying and embarked on the strike after their ultimatum.

Meanwhile, the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital have embarked on an indefinite strike following the expiration of a seven day ultimatum given the government.

The Secretary of MDCAN, Dr. Tokunbo Olajumoke, confirmed this to our correspondent on the telephone.

He said, “The strike started 8am this morning at the expiration of the ultimatum. So we are on strike.”

 

Mainwhile, 

The Nigeria Medical Association has asked medical doctors in the country to shun the jobs advertised by the Osun State Government.
The Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Suraj Ogunyemi, said this in a phone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday.
According to him, any doctor who applies for or is interviewed for the jobs, will be sanctioned.
Ogunyemi said the national body of the NMA was in support of the steps being taken by its Osun State chapter, saying the association would also sanction any doctor who sits on the panel of interviewers for the advertised jobs.

He said, “Any medical or dental doctor who appears for the interview will be sanctioned by the NMA. Any doctors in the ministry or hospital who sit on the panel to interview any doctor will also be sanctioned.”
The state government had earlier today advertised series of vacancies for doctors, offering them the same salary package which the striking doctors rejected.
The advertisement is believed to be aimed at getting replacement for the striking doctors who the state government have threatened to fire.
The government had said it would sack doctors who refused to resume on Friday. It, however, did not carry out the threat on Monday even though the doctors ignored its threat and continued the industrial action.