Nigerian Government Reacts As Medical Worker Threaten to Embark on Strike

Nigerian Government Reacts As Medical Worker Threaten to Embark on Strike

  • The federal government is displeased with medical unions in the country who are threatening to embark on strike if their demands are not met
  • The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, explained why it would be inappropriate for the unions to embark on strike
  • Ngige faulted the Nigerian Medical Association and JOHESU for failing to harmonise their different positions on the hazard allowance

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FCT, Abuja - The federal government has faulted the notice of strike served on it by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, told both unions to withdraw their strike notices immediately, The Guardian reported.

‘It’s arm-twisting’ — FG directs resident doctors to withdraw notice of strike
Ngige recalled that the Federal Government earlier offered the health workers 300% increment on hazard allowances, which amounted to N37.5 billion. Photo: Chris Ngige
Source: Facebook

Arm twisting the federal government

Ngige in Abuja on Friday, July 9, accused the medical unions of arm twisting the federal government.

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He said:

''I told them to withdraw because it is arm-twisting. It is not allowed in International Labour Organisation Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBAs) negotiation. So, we expect them to withdraw those notices they gave.
“JOHESU gave 15-day ultimatum with effect from June 28. NARD gave 28-day ultimatum from when the day they had their National Executive Council.’’

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He explained that the recent issues raised by the unions had nothing to do with this discussion on fixing a new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers, The Cable reported.

COVID-19: NCDC raises alarm Delta variant

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has disclosed that a deadly variant of the COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 Delta, has been detected in the country.

The NCDC in a statement released by its head of communications, Yahya Disu, on Thursday, July 8, said the variant was diagnosed during genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, Punch reports.

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Disu in the statement said the high transmissibility of the variant poses a serious global risk.

FG dismisses misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine

In another news, the Federal Government has debunked the claim that people who received the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine could generate some form of a magnetic field in the vaccination site or also light up an electric bulb.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency's (NPHCDA) executive director, Faisal Shuaib, said some anti-vaccination individuals came up with the magnetic conspiracy theory.

Shuaib said this at the NPHCDA weekly press briefing attended by Legit.ng reporter on Tuesday, July 6, in Abuja.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Kess Ewubare avatar

Kess Ewubare Kess Ewubare is a former senior political/current affairs editor at Legit.ng. He has a diploma in-law in addition to a BSc and a master’s degree in mass communication. Kess is a journalist with over 10 years of working experience in several fields of journalism ranging from radio presenting, television news reporting, newspaper reporter, feature and magazine writing as well as online and multi-media journalism.