The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) of
the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has
embarked on strike.
Speaking on Wednesday at NAFDAC office in Lagos, Auwalu
Yusuf Kiyawa, state chairman of the union, said the strike begins with immediate
effect.
Kiyawa said the union will not call off the strike until the
workers are paid their welfare packages.
A source disclosed that only the Lagos and southern part
of the union embarked on the strike.
The source said though the entire union agrees on the matter
of welfare package, the Abuja and northern axis of the union disagree on the
strike as the method to achieving their demands because they believe it is
premature.
“According to the director of administration, the workers
declared a strike action but the union is divided,” the source said.
“The Lagos/southern people are the ones currently on strike.
Abuja and the northern axis are not on strike. They are not all gathered in one
place. The chairman is in Lagos and the vice-chairman is in Abuja.
“The Abuja axis believes that the strike is premature and
that they will not join. As I speak with you, the staff in Abuja and other
northern states are in their offices. They want to give management time.
“The management is trying to hold a meeting with them so
until after that meeting, they will now decide. If management does not give in
to their request, then they can join Lagos people.
“The issue is bordering on staff welfare. The Lagos and
Abuja chapters are unanimous on the issue but the method of achieving it is
what they disagree on, particularly the timing.
“The first meeting that was called did not hold because the
permanent secretary of health who was supposed to be at that meeting had to
attend the federal executive council meeting. They are trying to fix another
meeting but the Lagos people refused saying they want to go on strike.”
The union had also gone on strike in 2021 over the backlog
of unpaid financial claims, poor work environment, lack of staff bus to ease
transportation difficulties, and discriminatory payment of COVID-19 palliative.
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