The Minister of Labour and
Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has warned the Nigerian Medical Association
(NMA) to steer clear of negotiations between government and the striking
Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The
Minister, who spoke in Abuja, noted that in trade unionism, such
meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry would
adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism, clog the wheel of
progress and retard the return of industrial harmony in the entire
health sector.He admonished NMA to desist from further interference in
any form in the on-going negotiation as well as stop issuing threats to
the Federal Government as it is firmly resolved to achieve a lasting
industrial peace in all sectors without prejudice to perceived group
interests.
The
Minister urged JOHESU to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that
corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors
has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages
Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity.Meanwhile, the
Citizens’ Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) has lauded
the recent order of the National Industrial Court which has directed
members of the Joint Health Staff Union (JOHESU) to call off their
strike immediately within a period of 24 hours.
CASER
asked the Federal Government not to make the mistakes of past
administrations that were obviously weak willed and often intimidated by
unpatriotic trade unionists who had the penchant of embarking on
anti-people strike actions, withdrawing essential services such as
health, education and, still expected to be paid full salaries for the
period that they did not work.
The
group cited Section 42(a) of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of
the Federation of Nigeria, which provides that: Where any worker takes
part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other
remuneration for the period of the strike and any such period shall not
count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment
and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be
prejudicial affected accordingly”.
It
said it becomes the sacred duty and responsibility of the Federal
Government to ensure that the above provision is enforced against the
members of JOHESU for embarking on an illegal and ill-fated strike
action.It added: “The government must desist from making strike actions
to be so attractive to Nigerian workers as a means of resolving trade
disputes. Nothing can be more irresponsible for public servants to rush
to engage in a strike action and expect to be paid full salaries for the
period that they did not work. No country can make progress with such
an irresponsible mentality.
“This
administration must not be tempted to be politically correct by failing
to implement the above cited provision of the law just because an
election year is approaching.
Government
must implement the law dispassionately and in the interest of the
people. It is better for the government to work and be on the side of
the people than for it to try to placate self-serving public servants
that constitute an insignificant minority of the Nigerian population.
“Thus, where members of JOHESU fail to obey the recent Order of the
National Industrial Court, the government in the interest of the people,
should be prepared to legally sack the striking members of JOHESU and
immediately replace them with other skilled and willing Nigerians.”
By: Collins Olayinka, Abuja
The Guardian News
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