The threat to sack the striking doctors in Osun State may be carried out starting from Monday, according to Punch
Governor Rauf Aregbesola gave the hint of what might befall the doctors in Osogbo while speaking on Thursday at the 75th birthday anniversary of the founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hassan Sunmonu.
The governor said he was surprised that despite his efforts to persuade the doctors, who commenced the ongoing strike on September 28, 2015, they had stuck to their guns.
He said, “To my dismay, they stuck to their guns. But you are either in or out. We have decided to use the civil service rule.
Some of those present started grumbling loud enough to attract the attention of the governor who was forced to ask if some of the doctors were present at the occasion.
Punch correspondent further gathered that the ultimatum given to the doctors had been extended and it would expire on Friday, January 8 which is today.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, Mrs. Omolara Ajayi, had while addressing journalists, appealed to the doctors to resume work in the interest of the masses.
Ajayi said it was not wrong to fight for one’s rights but the doctors should consider the masses who could not afford to seek medical treatment at private hospitals.
She said, “I want to appeal to them to resume in the interest of the masses, people who do not have an alternative. A life that is lost is lost forever.”
Ajayi also said state hospitals were not deserted, adding that other medical workers were not on strike and they were rendering services to patients.
In a separate statement signed by his spokesman, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Osun state governor insisted that the hospitals were not deserted despite the strike.
“For instance, Hope Clinic (where people with retroviral diseases are being looked after) at our State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro Osogbo, is operating. Our antenatal clinics and infant welfare clinic are open and attending to patients.
“All paramedics are on the ground and I can confirm authoritatively that administrative employees report to work every day in all of our hospitals.
“Besides, the government has been negotiating with the striking doctors who have refused to shift ground and meet the government half way on the terms of agreement. Highly placed citizens of this state including elders and leaders of the medical profession, revered traditional rulers and senior people in government have met with the striking doctors but they remain recalcitrant.
“They are insisting on the payment of salaries before calling off their strike. This is the area of disagreement.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Socialist Movement has condemned the threat to sack the doctors.