Hazard allowance: Oyo health workers to begin 7-day warning strike on Monday

Health workers under the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) will, on Monday, embark on a seven-day warning strike.

Speaking with NAN on Sunday, John Fabunmi, president of the union, said the warning strike would be observed by members in all the health institutions across the state, including those in the ministries, departments and local government councils.

He said the industrial action had become imperative in order to press home their demands.

The labour leader said the union had reminded the state government of its grievances several times, but nothing was done to address them.

“Part of the union’s demands is that the new hazard allowance in the state be spread to cover all other health workers in the state, and not only those working in the hospitals,” he said.

“Another demand is that some of our members removed from the consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) be returned and those who have not been placed on the CONHESS be included.

“We wish to let Seyi Makinde know that up till now, nothing has been done to address these demands, even after we had given the state government a 14-day ultimatum.”

Fabunmi said the 14-day ultimatum elapsed on June 21, adding that up till now, the issues have not been addressed by the government.

“In view of the present situation and the agitations from our members, the union has, therefore, resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike to further call the attention of the government to the need to attend to our agitations,” he said.

“Our members in all the health institutions, ministries and local governments will be participating in the warning strike which will commence on Monday, June 24.”

In May, members of the Oyo state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) commenced an indefinite strike over agitations which they said has been on since 2019.

The association’s demands include urgent mass recruitment of nurses and midwives and correction of the wrong notional date on the promotion letters of members that were due in 2017/2018.

The association is also demanding the adoption and implementation of lateral conversion and career progression for nurses in the state, as obtained in all other states of the federation