In protest of the non-payment of salaries for new members for the past seven months, the Association of Resident Doctors of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Ondo State has called for a 14-day warning strike.
During a small demonstration they organised on the institution's grounds on Tuesday, Members of the Association threatened to halt operations at the government-owned medical centre if their demands were not met.
Speaking with reporters during the demonstration, Dr John Matthew, the president of UNIMEDTH ARD, expressed dissatisfaction over the non payment of staff benefits, stating that they seek payment of the palliative for House Officers in February 2024, the February hazard allowance, as well as the full amount of salary arrears owed to their members.
He added that the significant clinical staffing shortage in the institution needs to be addressed immediately since members are working every day and there is a staffing deficit because of ''Japa syndrome''.
The state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association urged the state government to address the shortage of resident doctors at state-owned institutions.
