LAUTECH doctors refuse to end strike

Tunde Oyekola, Osogbo - 12.03.2008

There is no end in sight to on theindustrial action embarked by resident doctors of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH) Osogbo even as the management has withheld the February salaries of the striking doctors.

Investigation revealed that the matter is yet to be resolved as a peace parley between the doctors and the management ended deadlock.

It was further gathered that the management took the decision in compliance with the no-work-no-pay directive of the government.

The doctors were demanding from the management the payment of revision course refunds, furnishing of their official rooms and payment of Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) as approved by the Federal Government. They were also demanding for the payment of eight months arrears.

The payment of CONTISS would gulp the owners’ state government additional sum of N15million per month.

Already, the strike have paralyzed medical activities in the institution and affected the health services in by the hospital.

Skeletal functions were being performed by the few available consultants engaged by the hospital. The development has however, boosted patronage at the state hospital at Asubiaro and private clinics in the state.

But President, National Association of Resident Doctors (YARD) Dr F M Olaoye, said the industrial action would be total, adding that the medical personnel in the hospital were under paid when compared with colleagues in other institutions in the same zone.