•Nurses protest
Barring last minute change, all health institutions owned and managed by the Oyo State Government will be shut for the next seven days.
This is because, the health workers across the state government owned health facilities under the aegis of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), an affiliate of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Oyo State Council will begin a 7-day warning strike tomorrow, Monday, June, 24, reports The Nation.
The notice of the warning strike was disclosed by the union president, Comrade John Fabunmi today in a letter dated June 21, 2024, addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde and signed by the secretary, Comrade Suraju Alabi.
He noted that the seven days industrial action will involve all the members of the Union across all health institutions in the state including ministries, departments and local government areas.
Comrade Fabunmi disclosed that the strike action is imperative to press further the demands of the Union, revealing that the Union has reminded the state government of its grievances but nothing was done to assuage the situation.
When contacted by our correspondent, Comrade Suraju Alabi said the union has been pushed to the wall to embark on the strike after series of letters to the government has not yielded any positive result.
He said members of the union felt disappointed in the government despite its firm belief and support to the administration, after shunning a series of calls for strike by other unions as a show of solidarity with the government and rest for human lives which the nature of their job entails.
By implication, he said all workers across all health facilities owned by the state government from the gate men to Grade Level 17 officers in every facility are members of the Union and as such are not expected to report for duty from Monday (tomorrow).
He said however that the list didn’t not include medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists working at the facilities.
He noted that, with the warning strike notice which is expected to be fully complied with, access to the medical and health facilities owned by the state government may be denied anyone from tomorrow.
Comrade Alabi also added that the membership of the union to be affected by the strike includes officers government Ministries, Departments Agencies such as Water Corporation, Ministry of Agricultural where Animal Health Husbandary officers works, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health where Community Health Extension Officers work, among other places.
The letter, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent reads in part, with the title “Re: Notification of Industrial Action.
“Sequel to our letter with ref. No. OYSC/MHWUN/AD/INDU.ACT/0524 dated 27th May, 2024 on the above subject matter giving the State government a 14 day ultimatum to attend to all our grievances , we wish to draw the attention Your Excellency to the fact that up till now nothing has been done to assuage the present situation.
“In view of the present situation and agitations from every quarter in our union, the union has therefore resolved to embark on a seven (7) day warning strike to further press for the attention of the government to attend to agitations.
“All our members in all Health Institutions, Ministries and all Local Governments will be participating in the seven (7) days warning strike which will commence on 12:01am midnight of Monday 24th June, 2024, after further actions may be embarked upon.”
Comrade Alabi further added that the turn of event will determine what will happen after the expiration of the seven days warning strike.
