Doctors temporarily suspend strike in Ogun

The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has decided to suspend its ongoing strike for four weeks to allow for constructive dialogue with the state government. As a result, members are instructed to resume work at 8:00 AM on Monday, September 2, 2024.

This decision was reached during an emergency general meeting of the association, which addressed the public difficulties caused by the warning strike that had disrupted state government healthcare facilities.

The members aim to secure wage parity between Ogun State’s healthcare institutions and their federal counterparts, as well as to advocate for the overall welfare of their colleagues.

The strike, which lasted 25 days, had a significant impact on medical services at state-owned healthcare facilities.

At a press conference held at the association’s state secretariat in Abeokuta on Friday, Dr. OgunJimi Luqman, the chairman, explained that the emergency meeting was convened on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, to discuss the industrial unrest. The congress reconvened on Thursday, August 29, 2024, to review the strike’s progress, present a comprehensive report on engagements with the Ogun State government, and decide on the strike action.

Dr. Luqman noted that the strike was initiated in response to the Ogun State government’s failure to implement the revised CONMESS wage, which had been allocated to federal counterparts in June 2023. Despite the efforts of NMA executives, the issue remains unresolved.

The congress recognized the hardship caused to Ogun State residents due to the government’s inaction and has urged the state government to address the association’s requests during the four-week suspension to avoid further industrial discord.

The association is expected to reconvene on September 30, 2024, to evaluate the situation, with the continuation of industrial harmony dependent on the fulfillment of their demands.