NAFDAC assures Nigerians health workers’ warning strike will end soon

*The health regulatory agency says the strike is being resolved, and before the expiration of the seven days, it would be called off

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured Nigerians that the seven-day warning strike by workers under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) will end soon,

Sayo Akintola, Resident Media Consultant at NAFDAC, who disclosed this in a media briefing, said Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the health regulatory agency, has enjoyed a good work relationship with the MHWUN members over the years.

Akintola stated Prof. Adeyeye, who condemned the action of the union leaders preventing senior management staff from gaining access to their offices, said the Director-General was not happy that the union went ahead to begin a strike when a meeting was already scheduled with the Management of the agency Tuesday, April 20.

He said: “Seriously speaking, it’s being resolved and before the expiration of the seven days, the strike would be called off.

“The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, has enjoyed a good work relationship with the Union and its members since she assumed office over three years ago due to her staff-friendly management style.

“In 2018, shortly after Prof. Adeyeye assumed office as DG NAFDAC, N484, 956,344.43 was total debt owed staff for good Manufacturing inspection travels for 2015 – 2017.”

The Resident Media Consultant further noted:  “Even though the debts were incurred before her appointment as DG, she directed that the debts be paid forthwith in 2018.

“That was the year she paid a total debt of N3.2billion she inherited from her predecessor out of which N2, 141,016,305.07 was paid to the Federal Government in 2018 (FIRS), and N548, 026,195.07 was paid to the government as missed unpaid operating surpluses for 2015-2017.”

“Whatever the issues are, the Management and the union would have to sit and discuss to arrive at a mutually beneficial position in the overall interest of our country.

NAFDAC said health workers are in the essential service sector; hence, Prof. Adeyeye will never treat any matter that affects NAFDAC staff welfare with kid gloves.

“It’s unfortunate that the Union had scheduled a meeting with the Management for next week Tuesday only to embark on strike on Thursday.

“They should have waited for the outcome of the meeting before going on strike,” adding, “she also said it was wrong for the Union leaders to prevent senior management staff from gaining access to their offices.’’

Recall that the Medical and Health Workers’ Union members, who commenced a seven-day warning strike Thursday, April 15, had demanded payment of promotion arrears owed its members for 2018 and 2019 promotions, and upward review of job-specific allowance in line with the National Minimum Wage in Nigeria.

Idzi Isua, Vice-Chairman of the workers’ union, and Ejoor Michael, Public Relations Officer (PRO) in a joint statement, had announced the commencement of the industrial action early hours of Thursday.

The striking workers are also demanding the immediate payment of all pending financial claims, better working environment, immediate resumption of payments of suspended severance allowances to retirees, and better modalities in the payment of covid-19 palliatives among others.

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