Negotiations for improved pay between resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital [OOUTH], Sagamu, Ogun State and the state government have broken down.

The doctors have, therefore, commenced a partial stay at home protest to press home their demands.

The doctors, under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors at the OOUTH, in their letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun, accused the state government of being uncommitted to their welfare.

The letter jointly signed by the union’s president, Dr Popoola Mutiu, and the general secretary, Dr Osundara Tope, said the association had resolved to work only weekdays and stay at home during weekends.

They said they would review the decision depending on the response of the state government.

The doctors, however, said their members working at the COVID-19 isolation centres would not be part of the strike.

The letter reads partly,

“Since the government has chosen to simply rub the issues, without any form of real commitment to begin to treat us fairly, we have resolved to discharge our duties only during working days of the week because of our concern for the people during these trying times. We have decided to stay at home on weekends.

“We hope the state government will wake up to its responsibility and our congress shall review in two weeks, if any worthwhile transformation occurs.

“We have decided to leave our members working directly in the COVID-19 treatment centres to go on with their duties uninterrupted within this additional two-week wait, after which we will reappraise and determine what next.”