Health workers on the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Ondo State chapter, have withdrawn their services from all state-owned health care facilities, hospitals and health centres indefinitely.
Recall that Medical doctors have been on strike over the payment of percentage salaries, while nurses had also embarked on a three-day warning strike.
The union, which comprises Medical Laboratory Scientists, Optometrists, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Health Information Managers/Officers, Dieticians, Radiographers, etc had earlier intimated the government on the hardship being faced by its members.
This is predicated on the inability of the Ondo State government to pay salaries regularly and the eventual payment of 50% as part payment of November salary.
Report says the strike has crippled operations of many government health facilities.
The union, via a letter dated 11th of February, 2020, gave the government a 15-day ultimatum to settle.
“The balance of 50% of November salary. Arrears of backlogs of salaries (December 2020 and January 2020), not forgetting the previous year’s outstanding salaries.
“Payment of outstanding two (2) months Covid-19 special allowances as agreed in May 2020.
The Chairman of the Union, Prince Adedire Adeyinka explained that health workers were faced on daily basis with exposures to LASSA FEVER, COVID-19, etc. He added that without prompt payment of salaries, it has become so difficult for their members to fortify their immune system against the ravaging pandemic and other epidemic diseases.
Adedire vowed that members of the union would no longer accept percentage salaries being paid by the Ondo state government.
“It has got to the extent that health workers could no longer transport themselves to their different postings where their services are rendered.
He explained that unlike other government workers who were told to work from home over a period of time, members of his union were always on their duty post 24hrs on daily basis with call duties inclusive.
The Chairman commended the government for the giant strides in the health sector, particularly, its efforts at reducing mother and child mortality, free health care services and the floating of the recent molecular laboratory in the state.
Prince Adedire expressed optimism that the present government will eventually record more outstanding achievements in the health sector than the former governments in the state of it continues with its will and dedication.
He noted the unwillingness of the government to consider the plight of health workers who are the architects of these successes in the health sector.
Prince Adedire lamented the nonchalant attitude of the government which neither called nor invited the union to any meeting despite the first 15-day ultimatum and another 3- day notice of withdrawal of services as regrettable.
He concluded that the union had directed all it’s members to immediately withdraw their services effective Monday, 8th of March, 2020 after giving almost a month notice to the government.
(THE PRECISION)
