Nahimat Adekoga
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has insisted that it would go ahead with its planned nationwide indefinite strike until Federal Government meets its members’ demands.
The union’s General Secretary, Obisesan Oluwatuyi, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
It was reported that members of NUAHP who had commenced indefinite strike on Monday that include dental therapists, medical physicists, health information officers, clinical psychologists and medical social workers.
Oluwatuyi decried the level of decadence in the nation’s tertiary health institutions, saying that this had contributed to high mortality burden in the country.
He enumerated some of their demands to include stagnation, non-implementation of a court judgment since 2014 over the adjustment of COHESS salary structure, non-payment of arrears, among others.
“People are now spending from six to 10 years on a particular grade level, members of staff are being owed salary arrears since 2013, these are unacceptable.”
According to him, Federal Ministry of Health had an agreement with the union since 2014 and nothing has been done in that regard.
“Though, we have been dialoguing with the Federal Government since March 8, we are yet to see any positive outcome, judging from its body language.
Oluwatuyi also confirmed that the medical practitioners have had their pay roll adjusted; and their arrears paid, but ours has not even been considered for adjustment, let alone doing the needful.
He said that members of the union would continue with the strike unless their demands were met by the Federal Government.
