Doctors and dentists in Benue State under the aegis of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental practitioners (NAGGMDP) will go on an indefinite strike on Tuesday over payment arrears.
The group, wrote a letter to Benue state governor Samuel Ortom, listing six issues raised by its members that the state government has yet to address. The members of NAGGMDP in Benue State were ordered to initiate full and indefinite union action by the end of Monday should the government does not respond to their demands. The directive was contained in the letter signed jointly by the Chairman of NAGGMDP in Benue, Dr Dooga Solomon, as well as the Vice-Chairman and Secretary, Dr John Idikwu and Dr Agbaji Abraham. According to them, the union took the decision to strike after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum and a two-week extension.
The government, according to the group, has not paid adequate and proper attention to the association’s difficulties. Some of the requests for health workers include the revitalisation of the secondary level of the healthcare system in Benue, the payment of seven-month salaries of the arrears and the payment of their COVID19 inducement allowances.
Another of their demands is the issuance of permanent and pensionable letters of appointment to all doctors who have completed their bond and are still working with the Hospitals Management Board (HMB), among others.
