The strike embarked upon by resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu
Ogun State has been described as “irresponsible and politically motivated” by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Abiodun said he found the decision of the Association of Resident Doctors to embark on strike on weekends “disturbing, shocking and a breach of trust.”
The doctors had penultimate Friday announced the commencement of weekend industrial action, following the state government’s alleged refusal to yield to their demand for improved welfare package.
Prior to this, the association had embarked on a three-day warning strike, a development which led to a meeting between the association and the government.
The meeting was deadlocked and the doctors announced the commencement of weekend strike.
While reacting to the strike, the governor expressed worry that medical doctors were demanding pay hike despite the effect of COVID -19 on the economy.
Abiodun said he was disappointed in the doctors’ action considering the fact that the government had interfaced with the ARD leadership and “has done everything to meet their demands.”
The governor said, “Surprisingly over the weekend, I was informed that they have begun a warning strike, I found this very irresponsible, that any set of doctors at this point in time, in the history of this nation and this state, after having sat down with the government at the highest level, after government has done everything to meet their demand will embark on such an action.
“…I find it difficult that at this time when we are all putting our thinking caps on, trying to figure out what to do and how to do, any set of people would be irresponsibly requesting a wage increase, and these set of people are the same set of people that we have entrusted our health to at a point in time like this, I am very disappointed.”
