Oyo medical, dental officers not part of ongoing strike- Chairman

By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan Dr Solomon Olaoye, the Chairman, Association of Medical and Dental Officers (AMDO), Oyo State chapter, says members of the association are not participating in the ongoing health workers strike in the state.Olaoye made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan.NAN reports that members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in the state, have been on indefinite strike since May 21.The union said the strike, which was declared by the state Chairman, Dr Samuel Adeyemi, followed the state government’s refusal to address the demands of its members.In a related development, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in the state, on Monday, embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press home their demands.MHWUN is demanding that the new hazard allowance being paid to health workers in hospitals should also be paid to other health workers not posted to hospitals.Olaoye said that medical and dental officers in the state did not join the ongoing strike because the union had no pending issues with the government.According to him, the government has been magnanimous in granting some of their recent requests.“Again, the recent outbreak of cholera in neighboring states, especially Lagos, is a major reason we will not think of any confrontation at this time.“Our association is also currently engaging the state government to domesticate the recently approved adjusted basic consolidated payment approved by the Federal Government.“The association believes in the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration’s ability to provide the enabling environment for medical personnel to be productive.“While we are in solidarity with our partners in the health industry currently on strike, I plead with them to reconsider their stand and commence negotiation with the government in the interest of the people,” he said.The AMDO chairman also called on the Oyo State Government to attend to the genuine requests of the unions through negotiation.“This call is necessary to avoid possible unpleasant consequences that may arise in the event of any cholera outbreak,” he said.(NAN)