By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

LAGOS — Contrary to expectations that the striking Lagos doctors would call off their strike yesterday, they however rejected the olive branch extended to them by the state government, saying, the offer was only 1.0 per cent increase in their present salary.

The doctors who rose from emergency executive meeting of their members in Lagos resolved to continue the strike until their demands are fully  met.

In a statement made available to Vanguard in Lagos, and signed by the Medical Guild Secretary, Dr. Salihu Tajudeem, the doctors who were disappointed over what they described as “attitude of government” to the issues, explained  that  the offer is paltry to what their demands are.

Rejecting the 75 per cent offer in the 9-point statement, the striking doctors who stated that the government made their decisions without the input of the doctors who are supposed beneficiaries said: “We like to state clearly that the Medical Guild demands for the full implementation of CONMESS for the Lagos State doctors and payment of arrears from January 2010.

“We also demand the immediate recall of our immediate past chairman who was dismissed for addressing press. We also demand the reinstatement of our associations check off dues and correction of our present huge tax.”

They further alleged that the government had refused to make available to the Medical Guild a detailed tabulation of the 75 per cent offer by the government and accused government of publicising the offer in the media even before it was made available to the Guild.

“Members of the Guild can only react with consternation at the offer of the government as some of its members earn up to 74 per cent of CONMESS. The 75 per cent  offer being made by the government is therefore paltry to what our demands are.

“It is also important to explain to the general public that contrary to the belief that the government has approved a 75 percent  pay raise for the doctors, the offer being presented to the doctors amounts to only about 1 per cent increase in the present salary.”