Kaduna State Health Workers have started a 7-day warning strikes to press for the resolution of issues it had with the state government.
The Union said it reached the decision at the end of its joint meeting.
In a communiqué issued to journalists on Saturday signed by Dr Danjuma Sale, Chairman MDCAN BDTH, Dr Emmanuel Joseph, President ARD Kaduna, Mr Ibrahim Abashe, Chairman, National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technology of Nigeria, Dr Stephen Akau Kache, Chairman NMA Kaduna, and 10 other state healthcare workers unions and associations, the Union expressed its displeasure over the way the state government has handled matters in contention.
According to the Healthcare Workers, the state government had been adamant to their earlier communication and notice of a 7- day warning strike to press home their demands.
“We observed that Kaduna State government deducted 25% of the salaries from about 11,000 of her Healthcare workers in the midst of COVID 19 (April and May). This action was done in violation of section 5 of the Labour Act.
“Kaduna State Government paid between 150,000 to 450,000 naira as Occupational Safety incentives to about 300 selected HCWs and non HCWs working as staff or volunteer in the IDC and isolation centre or serving in some of the COVID-19 pillars. Less than 2% of the HCWs in the State benefited from the packages,” they said.
The Workers said it was imperative to clarify that their action was not in any way blackmail in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. They said the public should note that the state doctors were on Strike prior to the pandemic but were prevailed upon to call off their actions by the State and National NMA.
“At a time when the Case Management thematic pillars was having difficulties to get volunteers, the Unions came to their rescue by mobilizing and fully organizing the first training for HCWs to improve the capacity to take care of COVID-19 patients.
“Up until Thursday 21st May 2020, the Unions and Associations were opened to negotiations and honored an invitation for a meeting called by the honorable commissioner of health even at very short notice.
“However issues raised at the meeting were not considered by the government, rather our members were inundated with a circular signed by the Commissioner of health-threatening no work no pay.
“This was followed by a press release with a threat from the government to sack any of our members who participate in the strike action.”
The Health Workers resolved that it was on the basis of these anomalies that they were embarking on the 7- days warning strike as they earlier notified from 12 noon on Friday 22nd May, 2020.
