The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has suspended its 25-day strike, citing the difficulties faced by patients during the period. The decision to pause the industrial action for four weeks was announced by the association’s chairman, Dr. Ogunjimi Luqman, on Friday, following an emergency general meeting held between August 27 and August 29, 2024, in Abeokuta.
Dr. Luqman explained that the suspension aims to provide an opportunity for constructive negotiations with the state government. The strike had been initially called in response to the state’s failure to implement the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which has been in effect for federal medical workers since June 2023.
Doctors are set to resume work at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 2, 2024. Dr. Luqman added that the NMA plans to reconvene on September 30, 2024, to review the government’s response and determine the association's next steps.
“The Congress acknowledges the severe impact on the people of Ogun State due to the disruption in medical services,” said Luqman. “We have opted to suspend the strike for four weeks to allow for meaningful discussions and negotiations with the state government. Despite ongoing efforts by the NMA executives, the issue of wage disparity remains unresolved.”
He further urged the state government to use this suspension as an opportunity to address the critical issues affecting healthcare workers, stressing that doctors are committed to public service but cannot continue under the current conditions. "Our members are dedicated to serving the public, but they cannot continue to do so under the current circumstances. We expect the government to meet our demands and avoid further industrial disharmony," Luqman concluded.
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