Health Workers Threaten Industrial Action Over Unpaid Two Months Arrears

Health workers under the aegis of , National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have vowed to embark on industrial action if their members were not paid their two-month salary arrears.

The also tasked the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole to address the non payment of workers on the health sector before leaving office.

This was a unanimous decision reached  by the two unions at the opening ceremony of this year’s International Nurses and Midwives Week in Abuja.

According to them, two months salaries of health workers, especially nurses and midwives were still being owed owing to a strike action embarked upon by the NLC to press the Federal Government to implement agreements earlier reached with workers.

The unions affirmed that  no work, no pay rules cannot be applied in a situation whereby the government has failed in keeping with collective agreements; saying gone are the days when politicians who have woefully failed, would continued to deny workers rights.

Acting National President of NANNM, Musa Mamman, while giving this condition in his welcome address at the event,  appealed for a unified scheme of service for nurses and midwives.

Mamman called for the appointment of a substantive director of nursing services in the Federal Ministry of Health,

Mamman explained that the International Nurses and Midwives Week was “an annual event marking the birth of Ms. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing and the Lady with the Lamp…The Midwives Day Celebration which is part of this week’s activities started yesterday  (Monday) with community outreach at Dutse Alhaji where our midwives showcased their expertise in community midwifery services.”

The Acting NANNM President, while speaking on the state of the nation, said the organization has “witnessed the tremendous efforts of Government, in addressing some challenges facing the entire National especially in the area of insecurity, the economy and unemployment.

“The Association supports other well-meaning organizations and the Ag. Inspector General of Police’s all-inclusive approach has to finding lasting solutions to address the current insecurity in Zamfara State, Katsina State, Kaduna State, North East and in general, the entire country.”

Also, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba who was Chairman of the morning session, stated that nursing remained the backbone of any health sector of a country, calling on them to imbibe the spirit of team work.

The NLC President noted that despite the myriad of challenges, nurses and midwives remained steadfast and committed to duty, recalling that other nationals of other African countries sought health care in Nigeria but the story has negatively changed today.

He further stated that the significance of healthcare to a people, Waba stated that health was wealth, adding that such a forum was the best for formulation of health policies that would be impactful and effective in delivering the needed health care.

Also warning on non -payment of the two months arrears, he said: “It is illegal for anybody to hide under any guise and deny workers their rights and salaries.

Wabba urged the workers to be more concerned about delivering healthcare than fighting among themselves, saying “leadership is earned, not forced.”

While the theme for the Midwives Week was Nurse: A Voice to Lead: Health for All and presented by Prof. Mildred John, that that of the midwives day was “Midwives: Defender of Women’s Rights, presented by Halima Kallah Yahaya.