Doctors under the aegis of the Medical Guild in Lagos State will on Monday, July 13 begin a three-day warning strike over issues that affect their safety and welfare.
The guild is the association of medical doctors under the employment of the Lagos State Government.
Chairman of the guild, Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo, made this known to newsmen at a press briefing on Sunday in Lagos.
Sodipo said that the strike, which would run from Monday, July 13 to 16, would exempt members working in the state’s COVID-19 isolation centres.
He said the guild’s Congress had on June 27 extended the two-week ultimatum to the state government, after expiration of its initial 21 days’ ultimatum to resolve the issues.
Sodipo noted that the grace period was given to the government to meet 70 per cent of the doctors’ demands in order to avert the strike.
He, however, said that the council, after its meeting on July 11, observed that some of the demands were unresolved by the government.
According to him, wage disparity between the federal and Lagos State doctors is not being given necessary attention by the state government.
“The issue of COVID-19 hazard allowances and inducement allowances Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Federal Government to the doctors has not been approved by Lagos Government to her doctors.
“Doctors working in COVID-19 isolation centres are still being owed two months salaries which has remained unpaid at the moment.
“They are also being unceremoniously disengaged without recourse to their welfares,” he said.
Sodipo stressed that the issues of doctors getting infected and re-infected on daily basis was not getting the required attention from the government.
He maintained that adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), prompt testing of health workers and insurance should be provided.
“The congress will reconvene after the three days warning strike to review the progress made and plan for further actions.
“We call on the Lagos State Government to do all within its power to resolve the impasse,” he said.
