on MAY 31, 2011 · in NEWS

By Tony Edike

ENUGU – STRIKING doctors of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Teaching Hospital said, yesterday, that Governor Sullivan Chime and his government have not demonstrated enough commitment to resolve the issues that led to the seven months old industrial action and would, therefore, not heed the governor’s call to return to work.

Besides, the doctors said that until their six months salary arrears were paid, further dialogue with the government on the industrial dispute would not be meaningful since the government had not fulfilled its own part of the agreement previously reached.

Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Medical Association, Enugu State chapter, Dr. Gerald Nwafor, who made this known while reacting to the governor’s call on the striking doctors to resume work, said the failure of the government to honour the agreement reached with the doctors for the implementation of 20 per cent of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, was responsible for the prolonged strike.

He, however, stated that the aggrieved medical doctors “will review the strike the moment the government shows enough commitment to meet our demands for improved pay and settlement of all the outstanding salaries which was accumulated following government’s directive stopping the payment of our salaries in December last year.”

Governor Chime had, in his inaugural address, after he was sworn-in for a second term in office, Sunday, expressed deep concern over the long absence of the health workers from their places of work on account of the strike and had urged them to go back to work.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/enugu-doctors-reject-chimes-call-to-resume-work/

Enugu is working, Chime, we are watching.
Ekenekwam unu

Seven months on strike and still counting. Native doctor 4 Enugu don hammar.

Why did they elect him the second time, or did he rig his ass into office again, such governors should be thrown out of office, has he ever been owed for seven months before. Chime is working my ass.

EFCC dey wait 4 him

Hmmm, with all the praises showered on him.

Dear Governor Chime:
I hope you get to read this or one of your assistants does. It is clear to everyone in Nigeria and in Enugu State (in particular) that you are one of the few dedicated governors with a great vision for his state. You have also overwhelmingly won the mandate of the majority of Enugu state to continue the good work.
Without doubt 7 months of continued strike and refusal to return to work by Physicians in a major teaching hospital in your state is unprecedented! I am not writing this to apportion blame, as I can relate to the government's position on the matter and still sympathize with the doctors. Despite this, I think it is callous for Physicians and healthcare workers to put so many people at risk, resulting in so many deaths and anguish among residents of your state.
Unfortunately, we know that this has continued to happen due to a flawed system and terms of employment of doctors in Nigeria. For the purposes of full disclosures, I am a Nigerian trained Physician, working as a Specialist in the United States currently. Before settling in the US, I worked in Nigeria and other developing countries, was a lecturer in a medical school abroad for more than 8 years, well vast in health management and therefore I am very informed in issues concerning healthcare workers. I am also not looking for a job. I am even not from your State. I am only identifying with a State whose government has shown that they care for the people.

The truth is that the continued employment of doctors as civil servants with no renewable contractual agreement in Nigeria is the basis of this problem of unending strike actions, hostage and often blackmail of government and its citizens.
I can recall that several years ago in the small island of Trinidad and Tobago, the government suffered the same fate. There were repeated strike actions that never seem to end, often provoked by minimal misunderstanding, mistrust and often political vendetta. It is clear that those who take care of our health should be well paid, but for how long can we continue to go back to the negotiating table with either side pointing accusing fingers?

Now let me share with you what Trinidad and Tobago did and it worked! In 1995, the government decided to offer all doctors working in its hospitals yearly renewable contractual agreements based on verification of service provided and on the job performance evaluation. For this group of doctors, government offered them a much higher pay and a bonus at the end of each contract year in place of a pension plan. Being workers on contracts, they were also not part of a labor union and could not go on strike. On the other hand, government made it optional for those already in the civil service structure to remain with civil service if they choose to do so, or switch to contract workers who were paid more, but had better accountability, with out option of labor union participation.
When this was first introduced, there were major kick-backs as would be expected, but surely but slowly more and more doctors choose to leave the civil service and sign up as contract workers. Although government paid these workers more, there was better accountability of their time as they were made to take on more well defined responsibilities. The system became more efficient and few doctors did the work that was previously not accomplished by many in the past.
The result is that in only two years from the time this was introduced, Trinidad and Tobago healthcare system kissed goodbye to industrial action by doctors. Physicians became more satisfied, were better paid and government even saved money over time from the salaries of doctors.

Dear Governor, people with big ideas like you do big things. You have done big things in the past and it is time to change the tide here. It is time to be innovative. It is time to stand up for Enugu State. It is time to change the attitude of our healthcare workers, wipe away their frustrations and wipe away tears from the several families whose loved ones die during these disputes.
I urge you to give this a thought and I can offer myself free of charge to help you and your assistants explore this. We need to save our people, protect our doctors and do big things once more in Enugu State.

^^^
Seems a good idea.
unionisation has wrecked civil service in Nigeria.
The entire civil service needs to be performance appraisal oriented.

yet some people here will be comparing fashola to chime

2015 i dey laff oooo

Chime is the best governor so far, performing far better than Fashola in all aspects. thruth is bitter, Ndigbo governors are the best.

Good road wil never last 4 ever but good education wil change enugu 4 ever. Chime shout pay our doctors, equip our lab and also make ESUT school fees affordable to every parents. My people do you know you can get ESUT guy or gal soul mate, get latest info about ESUT. AL in www.esutforum.com it is a free interactive site to al esut lovers. Hoping to see you there

@ Adozie,
You can send your advice to the governor via info@enugustate.gov.ng.

govenment should atimes be sympathetic!! 7months!!!!

alj_harem:

yet some people here will be comparing fashola to chime

2015 i dey laff oooo

Shut up, chime is working. Resident doctors in Lagos were on strike at a time too. Chime is a performing governor

High_Chief:

Shut up, chime is working. Resident doctors in Lagos were on strike at a time too. Chime is a performing governor

first of all u don't have to tell me to shut up

secondly, lagos doctors strike but did they not pay their salary

7 months salary have not been paid to this doctors

remember they have families as well who would need this money

is it fair on them, who told u chime is not a preforming gov

the question is, is he as good as fashola

7mths? Thats like since last year. Wow! Arent we exaggerating? 7 whole months?
Na wa o.
I didnt realise because with UNTH, Othopoeadic,Psychiatric and good private hospitals around, the pressure wasnt much. But seriously, 7mths is such a long time, close to a year if you ask me.He should do something about it.

@ Adozie, for the first time in a long while I read a comment on NL and I am impressed by ur articulateness and objectivity as against tribalistic and ethnic warriorism perpetuated on NL. Pls find a way of sending ur views to various Government organs they may buy d idea. PS: I can already sense the ethnic warriors and Fashola blind followers gearing up 4 battle.

@Chibest5 and alj_harem, weren't doctors in Lagos state on strike for many months but Fashola was re-elected. So what crap r u saying? The guy has over tried. U need 2 go there 2 see it.

Wow! Mr "suxs to be yorooba" and rhino have not seen this threae,wait for their arrival.
Chime is oweing nobody,the doctors simply refused to accept their salary,ask enugu state civil workers and pensioniers,chime pays as and when due,the doctors should be considerate,they are always looking at their colleagues in UNTH,forgeting that unth is a federal hospital,enugu state dosent generate much igr,her coal is now second to crude oil,much of the government's revenue is from the federal allocation,they cannot expect chime to pay that outrageous salary they are demanding,there has to be a compromise.
If chime grants their request,how long will it take before other trade unions start demanding their own pay rise.

@Hardywaltz: Thank you. Our civil service system is fundamentally flawed and unfortunately there are people making a "kill" from it. It will take bold steps for us all to change our destiny. I have always known that we as Nigerians can do better. I wish there are very well defined (reliable) avenues to communicate with the policy makers, especially now that they know that non-performance will likely result in woes at the polling booth.

are there 2 enugu states in nigeria? how do people fabricate lies just to discredit others, which teaching hospital are they talking about or have in been living a dream for the past 7 months? we really need to be carefull what we post on the internet , chime is the best governor so far, enugu have changed so much, apart from abuja i dont i dont know of any other better city thats better than enugu.

DRlulu:

are there 2 enugu states in nigeria? how do people fabricate lies just to discredit others, which teaching hospital are they talking about or have in been living a dream for the past 7 months? we really need to be carefull what we post on the internet , chime is the best governor so far, enugu have changed so much, apart from abuja i dont i dont know of any other better city thats better than enugu.

Dude,its true,the doctors at ESUTH park lane,has been on strike now for some months now,i think they resumed work earlier this week.