Osogbo – The Osun State Government has promised to implement the Consolidated Medical Salaries Structure (CONMESS) once its finances improve.

Mr Gbenga Fayemiwo, the Assistant Director of Press in the Governor’s Office, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Wednesday that the implementation of CONMESS would, however, not be possible now, because of the poor financial status of the state.

He explained that the Gov. Rauf Aregbesola administration, which had just come into office, inherited a huge debt from the Oyinlola administration, and appealed to its striking doctors to call off the industrial action.

The doctors embarked on the strike on Jan. 15 to press for the implementation of the new salary structure.

In his reaction, Dr Edward Omolola, Chairman, Osun State chapter of Association of Medical and Dental Officers ( OSAMDO), vowed that the strike would continue until the state government implements the new salary structure.

NAN reports that the strike has continued to paralyse activities in public hospitals and other medical institutions in the state.

The Management of Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Asubiaro, has, however, agreed to make health care delivery accessible to pregnant women.

An official source told NAN that the hospital had qualified midwives who were perfectly
attending to pregnant women who registered with the hospital.

The source said members of the association sympathised with the Aregbesola administration, being a new government, but noted that “the national directive of the national body of the medical association supercedes that of the state”.

He added: “If the state chapter of the association refuses to follow the national directive on the implementation of the new salary structure, the national body will not support us if we request for its assistance in future.”
(NAN)