Doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Katsina, yesterday began an indefinite strike action following the management’s alleged failure to address issues concerning their welfare.
The doctors, under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) said it resorted to strike as last option because all entreaties to address seven of its demands proved fruitless.
Speaking to newsmen, the ARD president at FMC, Katsina, Dr Suleiman Muhammad Usman said some newly employed doctors had not been paid salaries for the past five months, urging for immediate payment to all those affected.
He listed the challenges of the union to include non-payment of December salary to some members and non-implementation of new entry step for house officers.
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Dr Usman said the association was also demanding for “immediate commencement of skipping and payment of January relativity arrears” and “immediate payment of training fees with all arrears.”
“We are embarking on this strike as a last resort because strike action appears to be the only language those in authority understand, “he said.
However, the chief medical director of FMC, Katsina, Dr Umar Farouk Abdulmajid, described the strike as unfortunate urging them to call it off and give way to the incoming government to address their demands.
Dr Abdulmajid, who said the demands of the doctors were not peculiar to FMC, Katsina, said concerted efforts were being made to resolve all the grievances.