Ogun State House of Assembly has again appealed to the doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association to continue with the ongoing negotiations with the State Government, just as it urged the Government to further engage them with a view to averting another planned industrial action in the interests of the people of the State.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Olakunle Oluomo made the appeal, while receiving the representatives of the affiliates of the striking doctors led by the Chairman of the State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Oladayo Ogunlaja, at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Oluomo admonished the doctors under the different affiliates including the Association of Residents Doctors (ARD) OOUTH and the State Hospital Management Board branches, as well as Medical and Dental Consultants Association( MDCAN) to give preference to their professional calling of saving lives, as they continue to engage government for a better health facilities across the State.
The Speaker lauded the association for respecting the position of the Assembly the previous weeks, by calling off their strike action to allow for further dialogue with the State Government, adding that the association should in the interest of majority of people, who depend on government-owned health facilities for all categories of healthcare services allow for peaceful engagements with government on their demands.
According to him, "on our part, we will continue to talk to the executive to find a lasting solution so that Ogun State can be better for all; do those things that will lift the health sector having cut other MDAs budget expenses to put in health sector and insist that the coverage of health insurance scheme must be increased across the State, but this can only be done in a very peaceful and understandable atmosphere. On that note, the purpose of this visit is to continue to appeal to you all and the executive arm to reopen negotiation with medical personnel in the State so that we can quickly resolve this issue".
Intimating the doctors of the government's plan through the Assembly’s approval to access N3bn credit facility being offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria to revamp the health sector, the Speaker assured them of the Assembly's commitment and support towards putting in place more legislations that would bring about improved facilities in the sector and boost manpower for optimum performance.
Earlier, the Chairman of the State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Ogunlaja said ARD, OOUTH Chapter defied the national body to call off their strike for two weeks as a result of the intervention of the Assembly, with a call on the State Government to ensure a uniform negotiation with all concerned affiliates under the association with a view to finding lasting solutions to all their demands.
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