Medical and health workers union of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Wednesday, embarked on a strike.
The striking workers under the aegis of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria said they would not call off the strike until their welfare packages were paid.
However, TheCable had learnt that the union is divided over the issue of strike action. According to a source, only the Lagos and southern part of the union embarked on the strike.
The source said though the entire union agreed on the matter of welfare package, the Abuja and northern axis of the union disagreed on the strike as the method to achieving their demands because they believed it was premature.
“According to the director of administration, the workers declared a strike action but the union is divided,” the source said.
“The Lagos/southern people are the ones currently on strike. Abuja and the northern axis are not on strike. They are not all gathered in one place. The chairman is in Lagos and the vice-chairman is in Abuja.
“The Abuja axis believes that the strike is premature and that they will not join. As I speak with you, the staff in Abuja and other northern states are in their offices. They want to give the management some time.
“The management is trying to hold a meeting with them; so until after that meeting, they will now decide. If management does not give in to their request, then they can join the Lagos workers to embark on the strike.
“The issue is bordering on staff welfare. The Lagos and Abuja chapters are unanimous on the issue but the method of achieving it is what they disagree on, particularly the timing.
“The first meeting that was called did not hold because the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health who was supposed to be at that meeting had to attend the Federal Executive Council meeting. They are trying to fix another meeting but the Lagos people refused; saying they want to go on strike
Leave a Reply