ExpressDay
Medical Health Workers Union, Joint Trade Unions, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), have jointly agreed to embarked on seven days warning strike.
This is coming on the heels of their dissatisfactions over payment of their salaries in percentages running into the second month, starting from March to April.
Speaking on the unfortunate situation, the state chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Mr Shawolu Tammah, said the matter was tabled long before the state governor and copied to the Head of Service but that nothing tangible came out of it.
Shawolu further said that even the risk allowances that was communicated to all states from the national level to pay health workers at the forefront of fighting the Coronavirus has not been implemented in Nasarawa state.
According to him, apart from the monetary challenges, the right kits and tools to enable effective handling of patients of Coronavirus by the health workers is still lacking.
“So we are not happy with the situation, because at this material time, workers need their full salary not any cut to help build their immunity.
“Some of these workers are fasting and will need sufficient food. Apart from the initial #5000, the one directed by the national body at the advent of this COVID-19, no health worker has received any risk allowance.
“That is the position of things in the state. That is why we are embarking on seven days warning strike.
If nothing is done after this warning strike, we will proceed on an indefinite strike.
“You can imagine how Covid-19 will spread without the workers at their duty post in the various PHCs,” he stated.
When contacted, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Iya Yusuf Sarki, said they are fully in support of the stand of the workers on the 7 days warning strike.
According to him, since the issue of payment of half salaries returned after having resolved same with the last administration, the labour union communicated the state government over the danger that it poses.
“On this note we wrote to the government five times but they didn’t heed at our plight and since the situation is becoming a standard, running into the second month, the only choice before us is to down tools,” the NLC chairman submitted.
Expressday reports that Health Workers with the Primary Health Care Center Akwanga, have since down tools and proceeded on 7-days warning strike to press home their demand for improved welfare and emoluments.
