NAGGMDP Ondo state had her congress today 22nd June, 2020 to review the response of Ondo State Goverment to the communique of our State Executive Council meeting held on 2nd June, 2020.
In the Communique , the Association highlighted some of the immediate concerns of members which include, but not limited to the following:
• That this is the fifteenth (15th) in the series of letters and communique to Government over burning, germane and mandatory issues affecting members in the last couple of months.
• That the Government of Ondo State has become increasingly cold and insensitive towards the welfare of members.
• That the Government has deliberately failed to conclude negotiations on the erstwhile suspended Minimum Wage & Consequential Adjustments already enjoyed by the Non-Medical Staff Since January 2020.
• That to our dismay and utter disappointment, as high as 2.5% of our members’ meagre consolidated Basic Salaries was deducted in the month of May 2020.
• That the Special COVID-19 Hazard & Risk Allowance pronounced and approved for our members to commence from May 2020, which was to serve as morale booster to our members working assiduously to fight against the spread of the deadly virus, was not paid.
• That our highly spirited and delightfully dedicated members have not been captured in the implementation of the previously negotiated and Federal Government – approved skipping for doctors.
• That One (1) month unpaid arrears of January 2017 still remains unpaid to members.
Congress, however, observed as follows:
• That the 14 – day period during which the Association expects that Government would have satisfactorily assuaged to our demands expired on 17th June, 2020.
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• That the Association had extended this period for additional 5 days.
• That Government failed to acknowledge nor satisfactorily assuage to our demands.
• That due to inadequate supply of personal protective equipments (PPE), currently six (6) of our members have been infected with Covid-19 and on admission at the Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH.
Several others are on quarantine after being exposed and are fearfully awaiting their test results.
After extensive deliberations, Congress unanimously resolved as follows:
1. Members will commence total withdrawal of services effective from Midnight Wednesday 24th June, 2020
2. That painful as it is the Congress has no option that to withdraw the services of it’s member in order not to continue to expose Doctors to the scourge of Covid 19 without the government making adequate preparation for PPE and the general welfare of our members which include Life Insurance for Frontline doctors as it is done the world over.
3. In the interest of the general public, our members at the Infectious Disease Hospital will be exempted in the first one week.
Though it is still our sincere desire that Government will, within the next 48 hours, adequately consider our demands and resolve accordingly.
Dr Olasakinju Tunde
Secretary, NAGGMDP Ondo State