OAUTHC Resident Doctors threaten strike over unpaid arrears, give four weeks ultimatum
By Jeleel Olawale
Resident Doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife have threatened to embark on strike if management of the Hospital fails to address various welfare challenges they are facing.
They also gave a four-week ultimatum to the management to accede to their demands in order to avert the impending strike.
The President of the association, Dr Ibukunoluwa Enesi spoke at a press conference organised to address various issues as they relate to the welfare of Resident Doctors in the hospital.
According to him, some of those welfare challenges include: Shortage of Doctors and other clinical staff; Unpaid Arrears of Resident Doctors; Deplorable Working Conditions among others.
Enesi called for immediate restoration of befitting call meals for Resident doctors and renovation of the call rooms to an acceptable standard.
He said, “We want to use this medium to express our displeasure at the attitude of the management to the Accoutrement Allowance that has been paid in some centres in the country.
“The posture of the hospital management towards the payment of this allowance is not reassuring as various formal and informal discussions are showing a grandstanding position. We call for the immediate payment of this allowance to all cadres.”
Other demands of the association, according to him are, Immediate Payment of Accoutrement Allowance, Reversal of Draconian Policy of No Work No Pay, failure of which would lead to industrial action.
The association had earlier in the morning marched in protest to some strategic places within the complex, including the administrative block to register their displeasure against the management.
Members carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘doctors deserve their pay,’ ‘our welfare is mandatory, pay us our money now,’ ‘call room renovation now,’ ‘doctors with empty stomach is dangerous,’ and many more to press home their demands.
The Public Relations Officer of the Association, Dr Rasheed Abiola bemoaned the management of OAUTHC for referring to some doctors who work assiduously to keep the hospital functioning as illegal staff.
He condemned how the management implemented the policy of ‘No work, No pay’ for a five-day protest of the association for non-payment of 14 months arrears of its members, by deducting 5 days’ payment from their salary.
A member of the association, Dr Olagbe Taiwo described the protest as a fallout of mismanagement and wrong policies that are inimical to them by the management of the hospital.
He lamented inadequate manpower, unsuitable environment and the deplorable state of the call rooms, accusing the management of not showing concern despite all calls to reverse the trend.
Reacting, on behalf of the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital who was not available, the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Josephine Eziyi said all the issues raised are being addressed by the management.
