Ogun Doctors Suspend Strike for 4 weeks to Facilitate Negotiations with State Government

The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has announced the suspension of its ongoing 25 days strike, with plans to resume work for four weeks starting Monday, September 2, 2024. The decision to pause the strike was made to alleviate the inconvenience caused to patients and to create an opportunity for productive negotiations with the state government.

The strike, which was initially called due to the Ogun State government’s failure to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) as promised since June 2023, was temporarily halted following an emergency meeting held by the NMA from August 27-29, 2024, in Abeokuta.

Dr. Lukman, who spoke on behalf of the association, stated that the NMA Congress will reconvene on September 30, 2024, to reassess the situation and decide on the next course of action based on the government’s response to their demands.

“Congress is aware that the crisis in health services has affected the people of Ogun State. We have decided to suspend the strike for four weeks to facilitate discussions and negotiations with the state government,” Dr. Lukman said.

He emphasized that despite the NMA’s best efforts, the issue of payment remains unresolved. The NMA hopes that the government will take this opportunity to address the challenges faced by medical professionals in the state, to prevent further industrial action.

Dr. Lukman also reiterated the commitment of NMA members to serving the community, but stressed that they cannot continue under the current circumstances without the necessary support from the government.