Ondo resident doctors embark on warning strike over non-payment of salary

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo State, yesterday, embarked on a 14-day warning strike.

According to the doctors, the decision to go on strike action for two weeks was hinged on the non-payment of seven months’ salaries to their new members.

The striking ARD members, who staged a peaceful protest to press home their demands, vowed to ground activities at the hospital until their demands were met.

President of the association at UNIMEDTH, Dr. John Matthew, who spoke to journalists, stated that their members, who joined the teaching hospital, were yet to be paid.

Other reasons for the warning strike, according to Matthew, were non-payment of palliative to House Officers since February, non-payment of February hazard allowance despite the promise by the state government to pay for two months, and dearth of staff due to the resignation of doctors from the medical facility.

Matthew added that there were only 26 members of ARD in the hospital, compared to 150 a few months ago.

He said: “We demand full payment of salary arrears owed to our members, and payment of the February 2024 palliative to our House officers.

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

“Our members work every day. There aren’t enough staff due to the Japa syndrome.”