The Association of Resident Doctors of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla has suspended the 5-day warning strike which was started by 8am of Friday 19th June, 2015.
Rising from her emergency congress held on Wednesday 24th June, 2016, members resolved to suspend the warning strike, effective from 8am of Thursday 25th June, 2015, to give further room for peaceful resolution before commencement of Indefinite total strike action on 3rd July, 2015.
The Association has once more extended her hands peace to the Hospital Management bearing in mind that the warning strike imposed a lot of hardship on the good people of Nigeria and caused avoidable loss of lives.
We have given the UNTH Management led by Dr C. C. Amah another opportunity to prevent and avert the total indefinite strike action by simply attending to our lawful demands.
Below Are The Resolutions Of
Emergency Congress Of Association Of Resident Doctors Held On The 24th
Of June, 2015 At The ARD Common Room, Unth Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State.
OBSERVATIONS
1)
That the Federal Government of
Nigeria, through the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), in
Circulars referenced HCSF/EPO/EIR/63755/11/192, dated 4th November
2013 and reference No: HCSF/EPO/EIR/63755/T1/195, 19th of December, 2013, and
the Director of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) through a
letter with reference no: C.3884/Vol. 1 dated 19th of December, 2013,
explicitly and clearly approved the skipping of salary grade level for Medical and Dental Officers in Federal Civil Service.
2)
The UNTH Hospital Management has in
at least 3 meetings with the ARD UNTH Executives including the Chief Medical Director,
Dr C. C. Amah, agreed that this was captured in the 2015 personnel cost budget
of UNTH.
3)
That though there was shortfall in the UNTH
Personnel cost budget, neither the Budget office of the Federation nor the
National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission nor the Head of Civil Service
of the Federation nor the Federal Ministry of Health nor the National Assembly
officially stated that UNTH Medical and Dental Officers should bear the brunt
of this shortfall alone.
More so, there is provision for supplementary budget for such shortfalls
to be taken care of.
4)
That UNTH management has
flagrantly arrogated to the Committee of CMDs/MDs powers higher and above that
of the HCSF and the FG for using their resolution as a basis for not
implementing the 2015 budget in UNTH as it concerns Medical and Dental
Officers. While we recognize the advisory role of the Committee of CMDs, we are
not aware that the HCSF has abdicated his authority to a committee that lack
statutory recognition in the Organogram of government.
5)
The same UNTH Management who
refused to implement the circular for the proper placement of house officers on
the grounds that the circular did not pass through the right FG recognized
channels has quickly decided to flagrantly disobey the 2015 budget as passed, a
recognized law of the Land, to obey the unlawful decisions of committee of CMDs/MDs.
6)
That attempts to meet with the
hospital management during the period of the warning strike were futile.
7)
That Members observed with great
displeasure, the untold hardship and difficulties our warning strike imposed on
the good people of Enugu State, South Eastern Zone and the entire Nigerian
Populace who depend on UNTH which incidentally is a Cardiothoracic centre of
Excellence, for expert medical care.
RESOLUTIONS
1)
That the warning strike action
embarked upon be suspended, effective from 8am of Thursday 25th
June, 2015 to give management the final opportunity to peacefully implement
what was budgeted for us and attend to all our demands as stated in our letter
to the Chief Medical Director of UNTH titled ‘Resolutions of Emergency Congress
and Notification of Strike Action’ dated 18th June, 2015 (attached).
2)
That the ARD UNTH will proceed on
an indefinite total strike action on 3rd July 2015 if by then, all
our demands are not met.
3)
That the Executives and members
of ARD UNTH are ready to assist the Hospital Management in any reasonable way
to see to all our demands and avert the avoidable hardship and loss of lives
the indefinite strike action will result to.
4)
That this strike action is
strictly against the UNTH management and NOT the Federal Government who have made
the relevant and cited approvals.
5)
That we call on the Federal
Government and all relevant authorities to prevail on the UNTH Management led
by Dr C. C. Amah, to obey the rule of Law.
6)
That we support fully the
Positive Change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal
Government, and strongly believe that our demands for accountability and
obedience to the rule of law from the UNTH management is purely in line with
this agenda.
7)
That we also demand for forensic
personnel audit of UNTH to determine the true personnel strength and the funds
required, especially in the last 4years.
It is pertinent to note that ARD UNTH tried explored as much avenues as possible towards peaceful resolution of these issues before embarking on the warning Strike, but all proved abortive. We have now created another window of opportunity for peaceful resolution and pray the Hospital Management to key into this our quest for peace and ensure there wont be further disruption of services in UNTH.
Our quest for peace must not be seen as a display of weakness and cowardice on our path. Plunging UNTH into this avoidable service disruption and avoidable loss of lives is an action UNTH Management should be proud of taking.
The path taken by UNTH management is flagrant disobedience of the Laws of the land which recognizes the budget as a Law. Their action obviously contradicts agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government, and can best be described as sabotage against the Government of the day.
Throwing the fragile and merely recovering Nigerian health sector into another round of turmoil in the face of a new government is one thing we believe the UNTH Management should proudly avoid.
We call on the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammdu Buhari GCFR, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health Mr Linus Awute, The Director of Medical Services Dr Patience Osinubi, the Leadership of the National Assemply, the Deputy President of the Senate Chief Ike Ekwerammadu and all Federal Legislators especially those representing Enugu State, the Government and good people of Enugu State ably led by Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, all well meaning individuals and the general public to help us their good offices to prevail on UNTH management to implement the 2015 budget and avoid further breakdown of services in UNTH.
Again, we are not in dispute with the Federal Government who have done their bit, we are not in dispute with other health workers in UNTH, we are in dispute with UNTH Management who have simply elected to flagrantly disobey the 2015 budget, a recognized law of the land.
We thank the general public for their understanding while the warning strike lasted, and assure them that we have their interest topmost at heart and will explore every known avenue for peaceful resolution aimed at avoiding a strike action. If we eventually embark on an indefinite total strike, please understand that we did our best to avoid this. A labourer deserves his/her pay.
Our demands are lawful and sacrosanct and the injustice has rather become unbearable.
Dr Aloy Ifedinso Ugwoke Dr Chioma Obodo
President Ag. Secretary General
ARD UNTH ARD UNTH
Dr Chukwuma C. Oraegbunam
Public Relations Officer
ARD UNTH
