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Aregbesola’s Claim Of Spending N10b On Health’s A Lie – Osun NMA Boss

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Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
  • Leads Colleague On Protest March

The Osun state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Tokunbo Olajumoke has said that the claim of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola that his administration has so far spent a sum of ten billion naira on the health sector is a lie.

This proclamation by the NMA boss is coming just as medical doctors in the State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest over the continued decadence in the health sector and the poor treatment of health workers in the state.

The doctors started their protest from Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo through the popular Ola – Iya junction and terminated it at the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

They were armed with different placards with inscription like: “Stop this Genocide Against Doctors”, “Half Salaries are Illegal”, “Paris Fund Out To Make a Difference”, “Enough is Enough”, “Osun Doctors Say No To Obnoxious Taxation”, “Save Osun State from Doctors’ Brain Drain”, “Fractionated Salary Ko Le Work” among others.

Addressing journalists, the state chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Tokunbo Olajumoke lamented that the state medical personnel have been getting 50 per cent of their monthly earnings in the last 24 months, and that the state government made illegal deductions from the meagre pay through unfavourable tax regime.

He stated that the payment of half salaries to his members has become a norm and has been having adverse effect on their economic wellbeing.

Olajumoke also complained about health facilities across the state, saying many of the hospitals in the state are operating without drugs and other necessary equipment.

His words: “The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is deeply concerned about the continued decadence in the health sector and the poor treatment of health workers in Osun State, hence the urgent need to bring to the public’s notice this worrisome and unimaginable handling of the sector and the health care givers by the state government.

“Despite the enthusiasm of our members in the state to render health care services when the conditions of service delivery in our hospitals have gone from bad to worse, the government of Osun State has consistently incapacitated health workers by her vicious and unscrupulous remuneration policies.

“We had a protest last month but there was no response or discussion. The Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said it has spent N10 billion on health sector which is a lie. If you go to any of our hospitals, the best you can get is paracetamol. Our salary has been mutilated and doctors cannot do half work, doctors should be treated differently in the State and paid full salary.

“When our affiliates were on strike last year, well meaning Nigerians appealed to them and they resumed work but eight months now and their salaries have still not been paid. Government is still withholding their salary.

“We ought to have started strike but for our sincere love for our patients. If this doesn’t work, there are others strategies still coming up. Government should improve the health sector. The masses are dying.

“Why didn’t they take the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke to the general hospital in Ede, that is not even far from his house? It was because they knew there was nothing there and they had to bring him to Osogbo. The late Senator just died cheaply.

“There is this new revised CONMESS which has stipulated the salary and taxation fee for doctors but instead of the State Government to follow the salary guideline, they rather stick to the taxation aspect. Why should we be fully taxed when we are still collecting half salary? We implore well meaning Nigerians to intervene if not, there will be total collapse of health care delivery in the State of Osun.”

While at the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, the State capital of Osun State, the doctors again expressed their condition and Oba Jimoh Olanipekun on his part, commended the doctors for their patience and promised that steps would be taken in respect of their demands.

Reacting, the new commissioner for Information and Strategies, Mr. Lani Baderinwa said the government is aware of the situation on ground concerning civil service and has been looking into their matter, adding that there was never a time their case was not taken into consideration.

Baderinwa assured the doctors that very soon, they would have cause to smile as the Ministry of Finance in the state is working on the payment of their outstanding salaries.

Packaged By Bunmi Oladejo

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