The Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights, CDWR, has called on the government of Lagos State to immediately meet the demands of the striking doctors in the state.
The doctors are on a three-day warning strike over the non-implementation of the COVID-19 hazard allowance and inducement allowances contained in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the federal government and Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) for doctors.
They are also complaining of wage disparity between federal and Lagos doctors.
Some other complaints, according to the CDWR, are that doctors working in the COVID-19 isolation centres are owed two months’ salaries; arbitrary disengagement of doctors without recourse to their terms of employment; shortage of doctors in health facilities.
The Lagos State government is also accused of engaging some healthcare workers in the isolation centres without an agreement or clear terms of the contract and with no detail on the insurance policy.
CDWR said it condemned the sacking of about 30 COVID-19 volunteer healthcare workers at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba and Onikan Isolation Centre by the Lagos State Government and inadequate facilities at these centres.
The action, the group said, was absurd considering the increasing spread of COVID-19 and the attendant implication on the treatment and management of patients in Lagos State.
“We call on the NLC, TUC, ULC, NMA, Medical Guild, NANNM and other healthcare professional bodies to support the strike action in meeting all demands as well as adequate funding and democratic management of the health sector and Covid-19 response,” the group said.
