Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja
Workers in Kogi State may soon embark on an indefinite strike following the plan by the state government to pay them half salaries.
However, the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed displeasure with the payment of the 50 per cent salary to its members and therefore rejected it. NMA in a statement issued thursday and signed by its Chairman, Dr Godwin Tijani, and made available to THISDAY hinted that the association was not invited to the meeting held between the state government and labour leaders where it was agreed that 50 per cent would be paid to workers. “We only saw the news in the media this morning but we denied it as untrue, but now many of our members have gotten alert confirming the payment of 50 per cent of their salaries. Kogi doctors are not happy with that decision.
“As a noble and an understanding association, we expected the government to notify us of this shortfalls and not be taken by surprise. I learnt those working in tertiary institutions are being paid full salary while those with the ministry and Hospital management Board (HMB) will get half salary. NMA expresses displeasure with that level of discrimination.â€
Tijani however, appealed to doctors in the state to remain calm and not be discouraged by that discrimination, adding that the should go about their normal activities as efforts are already in place to correct the defects noted in their salaries.
