Nasarawa LG Health Workers, Others Abandon Duty Post
- Over lack of PPEs, unpaid salaries
- COVID-19 takes toll on state
BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – Local Government Health workers at the border and entry point of Nasarawa State have withdrawn their services to join other local government staff currently on a one week warning strike in the State.
The Health personnel, who were deployed to assist in examining health status of passengers and other travelers coming into and exiting the North Central state, have all abandoned their duty posts thereby creating anxiety and panic across the state.
Already, the state has recorded 12 positive cases of COVID-19 in one week with the death of a state lawmaker and the possibility of more positive cases as samples of over 100 persons that had contact with the dead Assemblyman taken to Abuja for test.
A letter addressed to the State Governor, dated May 6, 2020, and copied to all local government Chairmen and other stakeholders, said that the joint trade unions (NUT, NULGE, MHWUN, NANNM, NUJ AND NASU) at the state level have no alternative than to declare a seven (7) day warning strike with effect from May 7-14, 2020.
The striking workers, among other things, are demanding Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) for all health facilities in the state and the stoppage of percentage payment forthwith at the local governments in the state.
According to the letter. “Failure to meet the demand of the workers by payment of the balance of 25 percent and other demands the workers will embark on indefinite strike action.
“Payment of the balance of twenty five (25) per cent salaries for the month of March and April, thus 50 per cent respectively”
“Adequate provision of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to all health facilities in the state; and Total stoppage of percentage payment of salaries at the local government level forthwith”
However, in a move aimed at addressing the crippling labour crisis, Nasarawa State chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman Lafia Local Government Council, Muazu Maifata, has appealed to the striking workers that dialogue remains the best option to resolve all contentious issues at stake.
Muazu said a strike at this time that COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the State does not only portends grave danger, but remains great disservice to the state and its people.
Soliciting understanding from the aggrieved workers, Muazu blamed the shortfall in revenue accruals to the council due to the pandemic for the current percentage payment.
