The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Osun State Chapter has accused the state government of refusing to pay their six months salary in a letter signed by the NMA Action Committee chairman in the state, Dr. R.A. Adebayo to the governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
The doctors, who have joined other workers in asking for their salaries, wondered why a governor who has received monthly allocations up to March 2015 has refused to pay workers their due.
They further accused the governor of deliberating making himself unavailable for dialogue with the association on the issue.
It said a meeting called at the instance of the state Head of Service with the National President of NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, and the Chairman of NMA in Oyo State branch, Dr. M.B Olatunji, based on the ultimatum given to Osun State Government led to many “discoveries.”
The association said, “Despite the non-payment of six months salaries to doctors and other civil servants in Osun, contractors and political office holders have been the beneficiaries of the available revenue accrued to our state from the federation account.
“Our association therefore concluded that the non-payment of six months salaries to our members as well as other civil servants is not a matter of government inability but unwillingness to pay.”
The doctors accused the governor of paying political appointees who they said earned jumbo pay while workers who were paid peanuts were left to suffer.
The association therefore called on Aregebsola to pay workers’ salaries without further delay, saying the governor should be held responsible for any action taken by doctors if their salaries were not paid.
The governor has blamed his inability to pay workers on the alleged ‘mishandling’of the nation’s resources.
In a statement sent to the media by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said, “With transparent handling of national resources, the days of revenue crisis in Nigeria will soon be over and workers will once again be assured of their place of priority. We are committed to furthering our achievements in Osun State as far as the welfare of workers is concerned.”
