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Resident doctors stage peaceful protest to Assembly over non-payment of salaries

By Tunji Omofoye,Osogbo
13 May 2015   |   12:28 am
THE relative peaceful atmosphere existing in the Osun State House of Assembly complex in Osogbo suffered a hiccup yesterday when the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) from Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, stormed the place in protest against the non-payment of six months salary by the state government. The protesters who were armed with…
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THE relative peaceful atmosphere existing in the Osun State House of Assembly complex in Osogbo suffered a hiccup yesterday when the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) from Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, stormed the place in protest against the non-payment of six months salary by the state government.

The protesters who were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions also sang solidarity songs to drive home their grievances.

The medical doctors took workers and lawmakers at the State Assembly by surprise as they blocked the main gate leading to the complex thus preventing vehicular and human movement into and out of the premises.

Speaking with journalists on the reason for their action, the President of the association, Doctor Olalekan Ajayi, said the non-payment of members’ accumulated salaries has brought untold hardship and devastation to their welfare.

Ajayi noted that workers in the state, including the doctors, were suffering despite their commitment to duties and compassion for patients.

He, therefore, called on the state government to take quick action to address the challenges facing workers in the state, over their outstanding six months salary, in order to reduce their suffering in the interest of industrial harmony.

Addressing the protesters the Deputy Speaker, Akintunde Adegboye, appealed to the doctors to exercise patience as the state government was taking steps to address the issue and ensure prompt payment of backlog of salaries, pension and gratuities.

Adegboye said the Assembly would direct the House Committee on Health to dialogue with the members of the association to fashion out ways of resolving the salary issue.

Some of the protesting Resident Doctors said the task of daily living had become harrowing and difficult in the last six months.

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