Court Restrains Enugu Health Workers From Embarking On Strike Action

The Enugu Division of the National Industrial Court has issued Interim Orders restraining the leadership and members of the health workers from embarking on industrial actions.

The organised institutions include , the Enugu State chapters of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwive , the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), respectively.

The stated that they should desist from embarking on any strike/industrial action, pending the hearing and determination of Motions on Notice for Interlocutory Injunctions already filed separately by the Enugu State Government, on August 24, 2020.

The court also made an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the members of the affected three bodies “or any other persons however so called or described acting under the instructions, direction or mandate of the Defendants from embarking on, or continuing in furtherance of, any strike/ industrial action, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed”.

The court therefore granted the Claimant/Applicant (Enugu State Government) leave to serve the Originating Summons, Motions on Notice and all other processes in the Suits on the Defendants, respectively, along with the Interim Orders granted.

The court orders were granted by Hon. Justice N.C.S Ogbuanya, on August 28, 2020, in Suit Nos: NICN/EN/31/2020, NICN/EN/32/2020 and NICN/EN/33/2020, filed against the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), and the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, respectively.

In a related development, the State Government has notified Nurses, Pharmacists and Laboratory Scientists in the service of the state government, who are presently deployed to rural health facilities under the State Hospitals’ Management Board (SHMB), that they can transfer their service to ESUTH Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu, Poly General Hospital, Enugu and Nsukka General Hospital.

The notification, which was contained in a statement by the Head of Service, Ken Chukwuegbo, noted that the decision was “in keeping with the Public Service tradition on job mobility”.

Chukwuegbo added that “all Nurses, Pharmacists and Lab Scientists who are not currently employed by the state government and wish to be engaged in the newly constructed Enugu State Infectious Disease Hospital (old Colliery Hospital) Enugu, should by this notice indicate their interest”.

The Head of Service therefore advised all interested persons to report to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Enugu, not later than Tuesday, September 1, 2020, for documentation.

By Joan Eze