Medical Group Rejects Proposed Salary Cuts by Kogi Government

The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners of Nigeria, NAGGMDP, Kogi chapter, has rejected the proposed payment of percentage salary to its members by the Kogi State Government.

It was gathered that, NAGGMDP is an affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) with membership predominantly comprising doctors working in, but not limited to secondary health institutions. 

A statement by the state Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr Abubakar Hassan, called on the Governor to rescind his decision and look inwards or alternative source of funds to pay workers.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that Hassan noted that even though the association was yet to be officially communicated to about the proposed salary cuts, but was all over the media of the State Government's intention to cut civil servants' salary by 50 per cent due to the dwindling revenue accruing to States, occasioned by the global pandemic. 

''At a time when workers need encouragement for optimum performance, NAGGMDP will not accept any wage cuts of its members. We totally reject the proposed wage cuts.

''Government is advised to explore all avenues it can to source for funds and pay salaries of doctors,'' he said.

The association urged the State Government to immediately do more to check the perpetual exodus of doctors from the State by ensuring immediate implementation of Relativity, Skipping and Corrected CONMESS for their members.

''The gaps created by exodus of these doctors are yet to be filled.

''It's quite commendable that government has steadily been righting the perceived wrongs of the past by correcting all previous cases of irregularities and paying salaries on schedule in the past couple of months. This should be sustained.

''It becomes inexplicable that at a time when many state governments are trying to do more to encourage health workers to boost their morale , our government is tinkering with the idea of wage cuts.

''We call on the Governor to rescind his decision and look inwards or alternative source of funds to pay workers.

''This is the only way to make workers motivated to join hands in the fight against the pandemic. It's also one way of changing people's views about GYB,'' he said. 

The association further enjoined the state government encourage the current leadership of the State Hospitals Management Board (HMB) under Dr.Zakari Usman, to enable it take secondary healthcare delivery in Kogi to the desired level.

The NAGGMDP, however commended the efforts of the Federal and Kogi State Governments in combating the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic, while urging them to sustain the tempo and do more.

The association expressed worries about the state of readiness of the State Government to handle a major outbreak of the pandemic as witnessed in Lagos and Kano States, and urged Government to be more proactive.

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