NMA Pleads With Fashola To Facilitate Payment Of Lagos Doctor’s Withheld Salaries

DR. TOPE KAYODE
The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos
State Chapter, on Sunday appealed to the
Lagos State Government to release the
withheld emoluments of doctors in its work
force.
The Chairman of the association, Dr Tope
Ojo, made the appeal at a news briefing in
Lagos.
Ojo expressed worries that Lagos State
Government withheld the emoluments of its
doctors for the month of August and
September 2014 as a result of the July 1
NMA nationwide strike.
He said that all the states of the federation
and the Federal Capital Territory had
complied with the general agreement that led
to the suspension of the 55-day NMA
nationwide strike to pave way for peace and
further negotiations.
According to the state NMA chairman, only
Lagos has yet to comply with the
agreements.
Ojo said, “It will be recalled that the NMA
after series of negotiations with the
government had some of its demands met.
“The sack of resident doctors was reversed
and all outstanding emoluments had been
paid as agreed which led to the suspension
of its industrial action.
“But it is worrisome that till date, the Lagos
State Government has held on to the
emoluments of its doctors for August and
September.
“Also, May 2012 salary is being withheld till
date in spite of several appeals. This made
the state government the only one that has
not complied with the general agreement”.
Ojo pointed out that the strike was not at
the instance of the Lagos State employed
doctors but at the instance of the parent
body of the association.
According to him, “we do not want to have
an impression that the state government
harbours ill-feelings against its doctors”.
“The LASU ASUU, LASPOTECH ASUP and
Judiciary workers did not suffer the same
fate following the suspension of their recent
industrial action”, he added.
Ojo said the association had met with the
Lagos State House of Assembly, the
Commissioner for Health and had also
written two letters to Gov. Babatunde
Fashola for a peaceful resolution, but all to
no avail.
He appealed to Gov. Fashola to use his office
to facilitate the payment of the withheld
emoluments of doctors in the employ of the
state.
Ojo also urged well-meaning Nigerians to
prevail on the state government to do the
needful as the NMA remained committed to
maintaining peaceful co-existence and
industrial harmony.