Medical, Health Workers’ Union declares strike Feb 12 over 15 months unpaid salary

The Bayelsa chapter Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Bayelsa on Wednesday said it will start an indefinite strike over non-payment of salary arrears ranging from two to 15 months owed its members.

The Bayelsa wing of MHWUN draws its membership mainly from primary health care workers across the eight local government areas of the state.

The Union said it has given the government a notice which will expire on Feb. 11 and regretted that there were no signs of meeting their demand for the outstanding emoluments of the health workers.

A statement signed and issued in Yenagoa by Mr Barnabas Simon, Chairman of MHWUN in the state, expressed displeasure over so many unresolved issues by the government as it affects primary health care workers in the eight LGAs in the state.

The statement noted that the strike will take effect from Feb. 12 after the expiration of the ultimatum on Feb.11, adding that government has not shown any seriousness in resolving the issues.

According to the statement, the strike became imperative given the state government’s refusal to address the issue of salary arrears owed primary health care workers.

The health workers are also aggrieved over non implementation of the new National Minimum Wage across the eight LGAs, non implementation of promotion from 2015, 2019 and 2020 and no yearly incremental steps from 2012 till date.

It further noted that having exhausted all avenues of dialogue for the amicable resolution of the workers’ grievances, the Union can no longer sit on the fence but has no option than to down tools.

“The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Bayelea State Council is currently expressing her displeasure over a number of issues yet to be resolved by the state government for the PHC workers.

“The grievances of the workers are: non implementation of promotion from 2015, 2019 and 2020, salary arrears owed PHC workers ranging from two to 15 months across the eight LGAs, no yearly incremental steps and non restoration of health attendants to the health salary structure,” MHWUN said.

The union further stated that it made frantic efforts at engaging government severally which resulted to setting up of Committees of diverse kinds but that it has become clear that setting up of Committees is used as a delay tactics to buy time.

“So an ultimatum was given where government called and asked for more time to ensure the implementation of promotions and the N30,000.00 New Minimum Wage but all is resulting to deceit.

“A new ultimatum is being given which will expire on the 11th of February, 2021 and till this time there is no sign or signal to indicate implementation of any of these.

“In the light of the above, we are left with no other option but to inform the public of this unfair treatment by government to our members, more so to say that the Union should not be blamed for taking any industrial action but hold the government accountable.

“Therefore, the Bayelsa State Council of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria is hereby directing all her members to down tools from Feb 12, 2021, as the Union is not closing doors for negotiations but any forum for such must be a hopeful one,” the statement concluded.

All efforts made to get the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Newton Igwelle to comment on the industrial action by MHWUN were unsuccessful as he declined comment on the development.