By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Health workers in Ondo State under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) will on Friday 26th May, 2022 embark on industrial action that will lead to total shut down of public hospitals
This is in line with a directive from the National Secretariat of the union which ordered a nationwide strike from Thursday 25th May, 2023.
In a press statement signed by the Ondo State Chairman of NUAHP, Prince Adeyinka Adedire said the strike is to press home some demands by the union.
Members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP), comprises of Medical Laboratory Scientists, Optometrists, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Health Information Managers/Officers, Radiographers and some critical health workers.
Adedire sais, “It is no news that the National strike action as directed by National JOHESU and our parent body, NUAHP, will commence national wide in all Federal Health Institutions and many State government hospitals by mid-night today.
“The strike action is not unconnected with the inability of government to implement all agreements made and entered into with JOHESU, particularly, as it concerns our union members nationwide. It is also worthy of note that there are many of this challenges that are affecting our workers in the state coupled with other peculiar but relevant issues that have remained unattended to by the Ondo State government.
“For the avoidance of doubt, some of the issues are; Implementation of New Hazard allowances for state health workers as done for their colleagues in federal institutions, Increment from N5,000 to N30,000 and N32,000.
“Increment in retirement age of health workers from 60yrs to 65yrs. Promotion of deserving health workers(Directors) from level 16 to level 17 as done for their colleagues in federal health institutions.
“Creation of the department of medical laboratory Services at the State Ministry of Health as done in UNIMEDTH, HMB and Ondo State Primary Health Care development Agency. it is unfortunate that the regulating ministry has continually resisted the creation of the department despite having same across all health institutions, agency and board in Ondo State. so funny!”
“All these among others are our challenges in Ondo State Health Care Services. But they all seem not to be important to the concerned ministries despite the huge commitments of our comrade Arakunrin (Governor Rotimi Akeredolu), our “talk and do” JAGABAN Governor.
“As directed, and as loyal union leadership, the state government was informed of the imminent strike action as usual, but the HOS seems not to be interested in NUAHP’s plight having met a single union out of many that most of our requests do not concern.
“For the upteenth time, we dare to say that NUAHP is a conglomeration of core senior healthcare professionals ranging from Optometrists, to Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Health Information Officers and Managers, Radiographers, Deiticians, Psychologists, Dental therapists, and many other very important ones.
“In our usual habit, as good citizens that believes in Arakunrin
Akeredolu’s sheer doggedness and huge commitments to worker’s plight, we intentionally tarried a bit to meet with the supposed responsible government representatives as usual, but it was a huge mistake laced with disappointment for us.
“The HOS (Head of Service, Kayode Ogundele) was no where to be found as he cancelled the meeting (convened to avert the strike). We do apologize to our members, for the delay. It is obvious that the HoS doesn’t take health sector workers serious and we find this anti-labour cancellation of the meeting as unacceptable.
“Consequently, due to time constraints, our congress will not hold on thursday but shall hold on Friday, 26th May 2022 by 2pm. The venue shall be communicated later please. The strike shall then be declared arising from the congress by God’s grace. All members should please be on RED ALERT for further directives,” the NUAHP Chairman said.
