Oyo State Health Professionals Suspend 7-day Warning Strike

On Mar 11, 2024

Health professionals, under the aegis of Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), working in various health facilities owned by the Oyo State Government have suspended their ongoing 7-day warning strike.

While directing all her members to report back to work, the Union said it is giving the government another 21days to start responding positively to all her demands after which it can no more guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector in state-owned health facilities.

The workers, including laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, dental technologists, dental therapists, medical social workers, radiographers, nutritionists and dietitians and Health Records and Information Managers across all general, state and specialists/teaching hospitals in the state withdrew their services, in the last one week, due to the strike action.

The practitioners include: the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN); Nigeria Society of Physiotherapists (NSP); Association of Dental Technologists of Nigeria (ADTN) and Nigerian Dental Therapists Association (NDTA).

Others are: Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON); Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN); Association of Nutritionists and Dietitians (AND); Association of Health Records and Information Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AHRIMPN); and Oyo State Association of Hospitals and Adminustrative Pharmacists (CSAHAP).

The workers said, “They decided on the warning strike due to the failure of the state government to accede the demands which have been tabled before various government committees in over two years.”

However, while calling off the strike, the NUAHP Unit Chairman, Comrade Olanrewaju Ajani, in a statement, on Monday, said the Union has, at various meetings, got the assurance of the Management of State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and State Health Management Board (SHMB) that the cases and demands are being handled by the government.

While condemning the roles of some Head of Departments and Medical Directors/Medical Officers who tried to victimise, force and coerce some members of the union to work during the warning strike, Comrade Ajani noted that no co-employee or employer has the right to victimise or intimidate any member for participating in industrial action called by the Union after following due process prescribed by the law.

He said, “You will recall that the 7-day warning strike embarked upon by the Union terminates by 11:59pm Sunday 10th March, 2024. The Expanded Executive Council of the Union, at her meeting held on Sunday, 10th March, 2024, observes as follows.

“Acknowledged the efforts of the Management of State Ministry of Health (SMoH) and State Health Management Board (SHMB) who had a meeting with the Union to give assurance that our cases are being handled by the government.

“The role of some Head of Departments and Medical Directors/Medical Officers in Charge in trying to victimise, force or coerce our members to work is condemned.

“It should be noted that the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals is a registered Union in the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, an affiliate of Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“Therefore, no co-employee or employer has the right to victimise or intimidate any member for participating in industrial action called by the Union after following due process prescribed by the law.

“It would be recalled that members of AMDO have gone on strike several times in the last 4 years without any intimidation from any quarters until their demands were met. It will be unfair, unjust and wicked for any Head of Hospital to try witch hunting our members for standing up for our rights after patiently waiting for years without having any answer to our demands.

“Having heard some positive steps taken by the government to address our demands and the usual love for the masses especially the civil servants by the Governor, Seyi Makinde, the Expanded Executive Committee hereby directs all our members to resume duty in all our health facilities across the state from Monday, 11th March, 2024.

“We hereby give the government of the day three weeks (i.e. 21 days) to start responding positively to all our demands after which we can no more guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector and all our hospitals as our members will embark on an indefinite strike,” the statement quotes in part.”

Ajani appreciated all members of the public for their understanding, saying all agitations is to be able to provide quality and affordable health services in the state.