From: Agaju Madugba, Katsina
Health workers’ unions at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina, have given the hospital management a notice to meet certain welfare demands, failing which they intend to begin an indefinite strike action.
Sources at the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) at the FMC comprising the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the health workers union of Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSATHURAI) and the National Association of Allied Health Professionals (NUAPH) hinted yesterday that the hospital management has several unresolved welfare issues with a cross section of staff.
Some of the demands which the unions listed at their special congress meeting, on Tuesday included, restoration of payment of teaching allowances to officers on CONHESS seven and eight which was allegedly stopped in May 2014, payment of 2015 and 2016 promotion arrears which they say ought to have been paid since January 2016, payment of due “first 28 days” allowance to some workers as well as correction of alleged errors in the 2016 promotion letters.
The meeting was said to have ratified a plan of action which include a protest rally and a week-long “no shift action” during which the protesting workers will only be on duty from 8 a.m to 2 p.m. The ultimatum expires on March 16.
The hospital management may have however made efforts to avert the impending industrial dispute at the FMC.
In a letter dated March 6, 2017, and signed by one Kabir Lawal on behalf of the Medical Director, Dr. Abdul Mojeed Umar Farouk, the management said that it placed premium interest on the welfare of workers noting that some of the demands would require the intervention of the Federal Government.
”It is hoped that the union will reconsider its current stand,” the letter to the workers said.