No More Ultimatums, October 16th Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals Strike Inevitable

 

Members of the Nigerian Union of allied Health professionals have declared their intention to proceed on a nationwide strike by the 16th of october. In a  communique isued and sent to MEDICALWORLD NIGERIA titled "Commencement of insustrial strike action by members of Nigerian unioin of allied health professionals (NUAHP) Nationwide.

They recalled that NUAHP had given the Federal Government an ultimatum

which was communicated to the Federal Ministry of Health which expired on

30th September, 2014. This ultimatum was arrived at  the meeting of

National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union which was preceded by a

public symposium titled; “Incessant strikes in Nigeria’s Health Sector:

Causes and solution” held between 28th and 30th August, 2014 at Asokoro

District Hospital, Abuja. One of the causes of incessant strikes is the

attitude of Government/Employers in reneging on agreements.*

*However, members of the Union did not go on the strike despite the

expiration of the ultimatum because of Salah festival and holidays, showing

our respect for the members of the public.*

*While our members nationwide were agitating for the commencement of the

strike on the 8th of October, 2014, the leadership of the Union persuaded

them to hold on for a meeting called by the Government called for the 9th

of October, 2014 hoping that the Federal Government would release at least

6 to 8 circulars of various issues which have been lingering over the past

four years.  *

*When the Government called the leaders of JOHESU for a meeting held on the

9th of October, 2014, none of our demands was met which infuriated members

of the Union demanding for the immediate commencement of the strike not

later than 13th October, 2014.*

*However, the leadership of the Union was forced to summon an emergency

meeting of the National Administrative Council (NAC)  on the 13th of

October, 2014 to receive the reactions of our members to the report of

Federal Government/JOHESU meeting of 9th October, 2014.*

*Having forwarded earlier on the report of the Government/JOHESU meeting

outcome to all units and State Councils of our Union nationwide, the

preponderant of the feedback from our members showed that our members are

disillusioned, disappointed, embarrassed and frustrated by the Government

position and therefore demanded for an immediate nationwide strike action.*

*Hence, the current decision of the Union.*

You would remember that medicalworld nigeria had published on its site tht the union joined other unions in the health sector to embark on a 3 day warning strike between 20th and 22nd of January, 2014 with a view of embarking on a nationwide strike four weeks after if the Government did not meet their demands.*

Since then, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation intervened

and has since engaged the Unions at series of meetings without any serious

achievements.  So we are therefore left with no option than to embark on

this strike. medicalworldnigeria.com

*You would also recall that the Union embarked on a nationwide strike on

the 16th to 22nd of August, 2013, which was apprehended by the Honourable

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu while a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two parties on the 20th of

August, 2013. Till date most of the issues contained in the MoU are yet to

be implemented.  Some of the issues are:*

*1.       **The appointment of Chief Medical Directors (CMD)*

*2.       **Advertorials on the post of Chief Medical Directors (CMD) and

Medical Directors (MD) of Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria being skewed in

favour of Medical Practitioners.*

*3.       **Composition of Management Boards of Tertiary Hospitals which is

lopsided in favour of Medical Practitioners.*

*4.       **Abolition of the Office of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory

Committee and Deputy Head of Clinical Services in some Tertiary Hospitals.*

*5.       **Holding of Stakeholders Conference.*

*These issues are either partially attended to or deliberately ignored. The

Federal Government had set up various Committees whose assignments seemed

unending. The Union is tired of this unpleasant strategy of time buying by

the Federal Government.*

*Other issues at stake are:*

*6.       **Non-promotion of our members to Directors position.*

*7.       **Non-payment of specialist allowance.*

*8.       **Refusal to issue Circulars after concluding collective

Bargaining meetings.medicalworldnigeria.com

*9.       **Creation of Department of Medical Laboratory Science.*

*10.   **Complete Autonomy for Teaching Hospitals.*

*11.   **Imposition of University Staff as heads of Departments.*

*12.   **Others.*

*Since the Government had decided not respond to our ultimatum which

expired on the 30th of September, 2014 and our demands, the Union has no

choice than to call out her members for an indefinite nationwide strike.

This strike commences by 8.00am of 16th October, 2014 until further notice.*

The national president F.O. Faniran and the National secretary O.C. Ogbonna on behalf to the union apologize to our teeming Patients and the entire members of the public for this avoidable action, the Government should be held responsible for

this.