FG pays UCH doctors outstanding salaries

The Federal Government has paid the three months outstanding salaries of doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

The Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria, Prof. Juwon Arotiba,  made this known on Friday in Ibadan.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria that the doctors' proposed strike had been suspended following the payment of the salary arrears.

Arotiba said that the payment covered October to December and the outstanding allowances including the resident doctors.

'Our salaries and allowances have been paid, so our local strike is no more necessary.

'But, we are still awaiting directives from the Nigerian Medical Association on the national strike scheduled to commence on Jan. 6,' he said.

The chairman, however, urged members of the public to appeal to the Federal Government to respond to NMA's demands.

'The demands are in the interest of the nation's health system in general and the masses in particular, who do not have money to go abroad for treatment,' he said.

The UCH chapter of the association had on Dec. 27 threatened to go on strike to protest the non-payment of their three months' salary arrears and allowances. NAN