The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Zamfara State Branch has issued a one-week ultimatum to the State Government to pay seventeen doctors four months salaries, and all the doctors of Yarima Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, their July salary or face total and indefinite strike.
The Association gave the ultimatum after its Extended Executive Council Meeting in Gusau, to
deliberate on the lingering industrial issues affecting its members at Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, following the non-payment of monthly salaries to the medical doctors.
According to the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Zamfara State Branch, the different categories of medical doctors who are affected by the non-payment of the monthly salaries which range from four to eight months are medical doctors in the hospital, visiting consultants, and professors.
The Association warned that if the Zamfara State Government fails to act within one- week to address the issues of the affected doctors, it will be left with no option but to embark on a total and indefinite strike.
The Zamfara NMA told journalists that it had sat at the table with the state’s deputy governor to discuss the affected industrial issues but with no positive result, which informed the one-week ultimatum issued.
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It noted that Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau is the only state-owned tertiary hospital saddled with the mandate of providing special medical services, postgraduate training, research and innovation, for the benefit of the people of the state.
It is, therefore, calling on the government to give priority to the welfare of the medical workers, to avoid brain drain.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)