OOUTH resident doctors appeal to Ogun govt over salary increase

Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta - 26.03.2008

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, has appealed to the governor of Ogun State,Chief Gbenga Daniel, to expedite action on the release of funds towards the payment of the increment of salaries to the doctors.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, the president of the NARD, Dr.Olukayode Oluyemi, said the government had agreed to pay the backlog of the arrears, but the implementation had not taken off.

He said the association and the state government, at different occasions, had deliberated on how the backlog of the 15 per cent across-the-board increase in salaries to all workers in the state, which began last year, would be extended to the resident doctors.

According to Oluyemi, “we can only appeal. I have had to prevail on the doctors in the hospital not to go on strike. They decided over a month ago to go on strike. But going on strike will only affect you and I; people who do not have alternatives to the public health system.”