The Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital chapter, Ibadan, has begun a five-day warning strike over unpaid two months’ salary of its 370 members.

A representative of the association, Temitope Hussein, said on Wednesday in Ibadan that the strike would end on Saturday.

He added that 233 of the association’s members were not enrolled in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System. This has prevented them from receiving their emoluments.

Mr Hussein noted that the hospital’s management was not responsive to the dialogue initiated by the association.

He, however, expressed hope that at the expiration of the warning strike, an agreement would be reached.

Reacting, the spokesperson for the hospital, Akintoye Akinrinlola, described as unfortunate the association’s decision to embark on a warning strike.

Mr. Akinrinlola noted that the issues raised “are national issues rather than issues peculiar to the hospital.”

He added that although the National Association of Resident Doctors planned to go on a national strike, it shelved the action following the National Assembly and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s intervention.

“Resident doctors in UCH are not the only ones affected by the non-payment of salaries and IPPIS data capturing.

“Other doctors in other hospitals owned by the federal government are also affected, and they have started a dialogue with NARD to resolve the issue,” he said.

(NAN)