Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has indicated that the doctors working in the state, may be sacked on Monday, January 11.
The doctors are on a strike action, which was embarked upon on September 28, 2015 and the state government gave them an ultimatum which is expected to expire on Friday, January 8.
On Thursday, January 7, while speaking at the 75th birthday anniversary of the founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hassan Sunmonu, the governor expressed surprise that the doctors proceeded with the strike-action, in spite of his pleas.
Aregbesola said: “To my dismay, they stuck to their guns. But you are either in or out. We have decided to use the civil service rule.
“The Head of Service will implement that as from Monday. Head of Service, it is over to you.”
Meanwhile, the state government also released a statement, denying the reports that the state hospitals had been abandoned as a result of the doctors’ strike.
The statement which was released by Semiu Okanlawon, says: “The claim that government hospitals have been deserted is baseless and untrue as only doctors are on strike. Hospitals comprise not only doctors – who are on strike – but also nurses and other paramedics, who are not on strike.
“For instance, Hope Clinic (where people with retroviral diseases are being looked after) at our State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro Osogbo, is operating. Our antenatal clinics and infant welfare clinic are open and attending to patients.
“All paramedics are on the ground and I can confirm authoritatively that administrative employees report to work every day in all of our hospitals.
“Besides, the government has been negotiating with the striking doctors who have refused to shift ground and meet the government half way on the terms of agreement. Highly placed citizens of this state including elders and leaders of the medical profession, revered traditional rulers and senior people in government have met with the striking doctors but they remain recalcitrant.
“They are insisting on the payment of salaries before calling off their strike. This is the area of disagreement.”
