Health Workers In Nasarawa To Continue Strike Despite MoU Between Organised Labour And Government
The Coalition of Nasarawa State Health Professionals Association (CNSHPA) has vowed to continue the strike action despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the organised labour and the Nasarawa State Government to end the ongoing industrial action.
Mr Kyari Caleb, spokesperson of CNSHPA, who is also the Chairman, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria made this known while briefing newsmen on Friday (June 18, 2021) in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Mr Caleb explained that the coalition started it’s own strike action on June 7 before the organised labour declared an indefinite strike on June 15.
He said the government engaged the coalition and organised labour together, but the coalition had to back out because they are not satisfied with what was being offered by government.
He maintained that the government had already failed to implement the outstanding promotions of its members despite agreement with the union in 2020.
He said based on the experience in 2020 the government should implement their promotions in immediately in the current month of June before they would call off the strike.
He therefore distanced the coalition from any MoU with the State Government to suspend the strike on the promise to implement the outstanding promotions on a later month.
”The decision to embark on the strike, was a collective one. Our members will continue to stay at home until the government does the needful.
”Some of our demands include, lack of implementation of promotions for more than ten years, failure to implement N30, 000 minimum wage for members and lack of annual increment among others,” he added.
In a swift reaction, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa state, Dr Emmanuel Akabe said the government was determined to amicably resolve the issues that led to the strike action by the organised labour.
He said that the government had already made an offer to the organised labour and the MoU would be signee today (Friday), but wondered why affiliates of the union are being indifferent.
He therefore appealed to the organised labour to put its house in order for the overall development of the State.
(NAN)
