FMC, Yenagoa doctors on indefinite strike over salary irregularities

Anxiety has gripped patients and relatives of patients at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa in Bayelsa State as resident doctors embarked on an indefinite strike recently to protest salary irregularities.

However, it is believed that the hospital will continue to offer skeletal services throughout the duration of the strike but is not clear what the skeletal services will entail.

It is understood that the issue of irregular salary payment is affecting other workers’ unions at the centre including consultants but they have remained quiet thus far over the development. President of the Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, Chukwunonso Okoye made the disclosure in Yenagoa, saying medical doctors at the centre were being paid only 48 percent of their salaries since the beginning of this year.

Okoye stated it is only at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa that resident doctors were being owed 52 percent of their salaries. “We have been having the challenge of being paid only 48 percent and being owed 52 percent of our salaries for the past four months.

“We have tried to be patient with the present government and also shown understanding but up till this moment, we have not received our pay; therefore, we are withdrawing all our services;  the fact is that it is affecting our members and we do not see how we can continue to show this understanding with present administration.

“We have written to various authorities ranging from the Senators representing Bayelsa to the Accountant General of the Federation, Budget and National Planning and the Minister of Health concerning the short payment but none has shown concern about our plight. We made personal contacts with these people but nothing was done.

We cannot work on an empty stomach”, he said. The development has caused concern for patients and their relatives as they begin to search for other suitable medical facilities for the treatment of their people. As the relationship between the resident doctors and the management took a turn for the worse, the management of the medical centre is yet to comment on the development.