Resident Doctors Begins 14-day Warning Strike In Ondo

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Ondo State have commenced a 14-day warning strike over the non-payment of seven months' salaries to new members.

This was disclosed by the President of the union, Dr. John Matthew, while speaking to journalists on Tuesday.

It was learnt that the striking doctors also staged a peaceful protest to press home their demands.

They were seen with several placards with various inscriptions and vowed to ground activities at the hospital if their demands were not met.

Dr Matthew added that non-payment of palliative to House Officers since February, non-payment of February hazard allowance despite a promise by the state government to pay for two months, and dearth of staff due to the resignation of doctors from the institution were other reasons for the warning strike.

He said there were only 26 members of ARD in the hospital compared to 150 members who were there a few months ago.

“We demand full payment of the arrears of salaries owed to our members and payment of February 2024 palliative to our House officers,” he told The Nation.

“Management should pay February hazard allowance to our members and urgently address the severe clinical manpower shortage in the institution.”

“Our members work every day. There are no staff due to Japa syndrome,” he added.