Edo Govt begs doctors to shelve strike, warns

Edo State Government has appealed to doctors in the state to shelve its planned strike scheduled for Monday 6th January, 2014.

In a statement by the State Head of Service, Mr Jerry Obazele, the Government said “the state experienced a warning strike by Medical Doctors in Government employment that lasted for an unprecedented period of five days. There is the threat of another strike from the 6th of January, 2014, by the same body without any trade dispute between the doctors and the state government.”

The Government said “the issues canvassed for the warning strike action and its continuation on 6th January 2014 are issues within the exclusive purview of the Federal Government and its employees.

“The issues earlier raised by the various Health Associations of Edo State Hospital Management Board (HMB) are currently being addressed and Government is committed to its earlier decision to address the issues by the third week of February, 2014.

“Government uses this medium therefore to appeal to the doctors in its employment in Government Hospitals and Institutions to take the health of the citizenry seriously and therefore eschew any resort to strike action that will compromise the health of our people.

“However, Edo State Government stand s by its position of ‘no work, no pay’ policy as earlier communicated to the Medical and Dental Consultant Association (MDCAN) and Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the public service of Edo State.

“Edo State Government will at all times continue to protect the health of the good people of the state.”