From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Against the alleged poor remuneration of medical Doctors in Kogi State Civil Service, some Doctors have resigned their employment to seek greener pastures in other states.
Kogi State chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA), Dr Omakoji Oyiguh disclosed this on Wednesday, at a familiarization visit to the Kogi State Council of Ulamau.
Dr Oyiguh who took over the mantle of leadership of leadership of the association last month lamented the sympathetic conditions of service of the medical doctors in the state.
The chairman who expressed worries over this ugly development, however, urged the state Government to give priority attention to the welfare of health workers to prevent mass exodus of doctors from the state’s civil service.
”The issue of strike is not what I want my own administration to welcome. I would want to be very proactive in discussing with government to ensure that things do not reach the level where doctors will be frustrated to go on strike. This will create crisis in the health system of Kogi State.”
” Salaries have been revised over and over since 2009, 2014 and now there is minimum wage. Kogi state is still at the lowest level of 2004. So, the doctors are not happy that their salaries compared to their counterpart in FMC and other states is about half of their colleagues.”
“As at yesterday, four doctors left the service of the Kogi State Government. So they are leaving en-mass and we cannot afford to say nothing is wrong. Things are going wrong and and I’m not happy this is also happening under my leadership. We can’t count the numbers of doctors that have quit the services of the state. This does not speak well of the confluence state. Am just two months old in this office.” Chairman lamented.
“This cannot continue. I just have to cry out now. Whatever the governor can do, to avert further loss of these experienced doctors to other state, he should please do it before things gets out of hand. As he is celebrating his victory at the supreme court, he should extend that celebration to bring smiles to the faces of doctor’s in the service of the government of Kogi State.”
” The resident doctors at the Kogi state specialist hospital are on strike as I speak. It is not only in Kogi State but the entire nation. Their claims are legitimate. The government complained that they don’t have a lot of money to be able to deal with issues. But if you made promises in the course of this pandemic, it is important they keep to it.”
He however lamented on the continuous closure of Federal Medical Center, FMC, Lokoja, adding that many families have lost their loved one’s in the state since they could not afford the bills of private hospitals when their relatives are sick and need treatment.
