DTSG Indicates Readiness To Dialogue With Doctors In Its Employ

By Matthew Okoata

Delta State Government (DTSG) has indicated its readiness to dialogue with medical doctors in its employ over issues bordering on their welfare packages.

The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Mordi Ononye, made this known in Asaba, the state capital, when members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Delta State Branch paid him a courtesy visit.

The commissioner said that the state governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa was concerned about the raised issue of taxation concerning their allowances, adding that modalities were already been put in place to finally lay it to rest.

“I have met with the Chairman of Board, State Internal Revenue, Chief Onyema, on the matter and have been reliably informed that the same tax operation in use nationally is the same applicable here in Delta State; however, government is open to looking into it dispassionately,” he stated.

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Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta State Branch, Dr. Nwose Emmanuel, pledged the support of the NMA and readiness to work with the present administration.

He appreciated Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his unwavering support and attention towards the health sector and also thanked him for his recent approval of N20 million for the completion of the NMA ongoing building project in the state.

Dr. Nwose appealed to the commissioner to use his good office to facilitate the release of the funds from the state treasury in order to achieve early completion of the association’s project.

He further appealed to the state government to grant tax waiver to doctors’ special allowance as applicable in states, such as Edo and Kano, adding that the gesture would significantly reduce the tax burden on doctors working in government hospitals in the state.

Dr. Nwose explained that the stoppage of taxation of their special allowances would reduce the exodus of doctors from the state because some doctors had actually left the employment of the state because of high tax being paid when compared to neighboring Edo State.

On the issue of the strike action embarked upon by Resident Doctors nationwide, Dr. Nwose affirmed that the doctors in Delta State had no issue with the state government but rather with the Federal Government and that issues behind the ongoing industrial action were matters concerning the fabrics of medical profession, hence the inevitable need for them to join in solidarity.