On Friday, June 7th, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), initiated an industrial action over the nonpayment of their outstanding salaries and allowances.
The President of LUTH’s ARD, Dr Kayode Makinde, disclosed that since its last warning strike, the body has not been invited by the management of the hospital for possible negotiation.
On what informed the body’s decision to embark on the indefinite strike, Makinde lamented and revealed that 86 resident doctors were being owed between one and three months salaries.
“With the present numbers of house officers (177), it means one out of three house officers is currently being owed salaries.
“House officers are not enrolled on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform so what is the reason for the perennial delay in payment of their salaries?
“86 resident doctors are being owed one to three months salaries on the IPPIS platform.”
Backstory: The ARD body has been complaining of dearth in health infrastructures for a long time. Government’s refusal to address the situation prompted ARD to stage a peaceful protest on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. This was followed with a warning strike which lasted for two days.
The Complaints: The body had earlier identified lack of resident doctors and house officers as matters demanding attention and quick intervention of the government. The ARD also expressed concerns on some areas in the hospital without adequate lighting and electrification.
“The residential quarters of doctors and house officers is still in darkness in spite of availability of 24 hours power supply in the hospital.”
“The No Work, No Pay policy is currently a subject of litigation at the National Industrial court. Will the LUTH management hold the court in contempt?
“This is a clarion call to all resident doctors and house officers of LUTH to cooperate, because together we can achieve and get our demands.”
