MP for Savelugu, Mohammed Murtala and Greater Accra Deputy Secretary for New Patriotic Party, Mike Oquaye Jnr have disagreed over what have been the causes of strikes under the National Democratic Congress. They voiced their disagreements on Metro TV's Good Morning Ghana program, Monday. The NDC MP situated the causes of strikes on the burgeoning wage bill occasioned by the Single Spine Salary Structure. He said there has been a 43% increase in government's recurrent expenditure and an increase of wage bill payment from Gh¢ 2bn to Gh¢ 7bn. He also said deficit is expected to reduce from 12% to 9% by the end of 2013 because of some of the demands for the payment of arrears have been met. He further called on public sector workers to shore up productivity to justify wage increment. Murtala entreated striking doctors to consider the plight of patients. But Mike Ocquaye Jnr disagreed. He said if government considered the suffering of doctors, it would make them naturally consider the suffering of patients. He said the cause of the persistent strike was the persistent "historical pattern of deceit". He mentioned that missionary hospitals did not withdraw their services because of single spine. He questioned the payment of Gh¢ 10,000 for ministers and Gh¢ 8,000 paid to deputy ministers and MPs as one of the reasons why Ghana has been saddled with a high wage bill. The government has been hit by Eight strikes since the beginning the year. The GMA has gone on strike twice in three months. The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG, The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), University Teachers Association Ghana (UTAG)and the Government Hospitals and Pharmacists Association (GOSHPA)have all embarked on strikes.