This is contained in a statement signed by the
Commissioner for Information, Charles Udoh, on Wednesday.
Mr. Udoh said the strike embarked upon by JOHESU was
ill-conceived and politically motivated.
He said the demand by JOHESU for payment of 50 per
cent of basic salaries as hazard allowance in the prevailing harsh economic
climate was unreasonable.
The commissioner said the action of the striking
health workers in spite of concerted efforts by the government to provide the
best of working conditions was unnecessary.
He said the government had made payment of all due
salaries and allowances, adding that the state was one of the best paying
states in the health sector.
“The efforts of the state government in this regard
have continued to receive widespread commendations from various healthcare
stakeholders in the country.
“Against this backdrop, government is constrained to
state that it is unreasonable and also unlawful for healthcare professionals to
embark on any form of strike action during the period of Coronavirus pandemic.
“Therefore, full compliments of related healthcare
professionals are expected at their duty posts unfailingly, as required by the
terms and conditions of their employment.
“Any staff member not found on duty will be
considered to be no longer interested in the job and will be relieved of such
duty with immediate effect.
“The relevant health authorities have been mandated
to conduct headcount,” Udoh said.
Mr Udoh said the government had made adequate
arrangements to ensure that those interested in performing their lawful duties
were allowed to do so without disruption or molestation of any sort.
“Anyone found obstructing or disrupting healthcare
operations anywhere in the state, under the pretext of industrial action,
will be apprehended and prosecuted.
“It is
criminal for anyone to obstruct health care workers from performing their
legitimate duties in this period of emergency
“Government is aware that the ill-conceived
industrial action and blatant act of sabotage by JOHESU is sponsored by
political detractors with an underlying intent to vandalise healthcare
facilities in the state,” he said.
He added that security agencies in the state had
been fully briefed to ensure the continued protection of lives and property,
using all legal means.
The commissioner enjoined Akwa Ibom residents to
continue to cooperate with the government in the fight to curtail the surge of
Coronavirus pandemic in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the
JOHESU on July 14, embarked on an indefinite strike to press for higher wages.
The union’s demands include the implementation of 80
percent of the National Consolidated Health Salary Structure as paid by the
federal government and 50 percent basic salary as hazard allowance. (NAN).
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