Doctors, under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have begun an indefinite strike.
The doctors were said to have resorted to the industrial action in order to protest against irregularities in the payment of their salaries.
The President, NARD, FMC, Yenagoa Branch, Dr. Chukwunonso Okoye, said that doctors at the medical facility had been receiving only 48 per cent of their salaries for the past four months.
Okoye said information at their disposal indicated that it was only at FMC Yenagoa that resident doctors were being owed 52 per cent of their salaries since January 2016.
He said, “We have been having the challenge of being paid only 48 per cent and being owed 52 per cent of our salaries for some months.
“We have tried to be patient with the Federal Government and to also show understanding, but up until this moment, we have not received our pay. We are, therefore, compelled to withdraw all our services.
“The fact is that it is affecting our members and we do not see how we can continue to show understanding with the present administration.”
Okoye said the strike would continue indefinitely if their salaries were not paid in full.
Reacting to the development, spokesperson for the hospital, Mr. Bernard Akpedi, said, “The management has been talking to them and is still talking. Salary payment issue is actually within the purview of the Federal Government. It is no more done by the management.”
Punch
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