NAFDAC’s workers begin strike

NAFDAC’s workers begin strike

WORKERS of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have embarked on indefinite strike, after the expiration of seven days ultimatum they gave to the management of the organisation.
The workers under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), who arrived at the premises of NAFDAC office in Oshodi as early as 7a.m, last wednesday, carried different placards with inscription such as “NAFDAC leaders have failed Nigerians”; “Admin is corrupt”; “Implement skipping”, “We have suffered enough” among others.
The Chairman of the area council of MHWUN, Stephen Ibe, who addressed the workers, said the union allowed the management a sufficient time to address their grievances. But NAFDAC pretended as if nothing happened”, he said.
He added that they have no alternative than to padlock the organisation’s premises “from all transactions throughout the federation, including the sea and airport” till their demands are met.
Ibe added: “It is now or never. We have had series of meetings with all the stakeholders since last year march, but to no avail. Therefore, the union has no choice than to declare indefinite strike action until our expectations are met.”
The union’s chairman, who regretted that despite all dialogues the workers had with the management to make sure that the crisis was resolved amicably, the NAFDAC’s Director-General, Dr. Paul Ohirii, bluntly refused to listen to their plight.
According to him, some of the grievances of the union includes the upward review of Job Specific Allowance by National Salaries, Incomes and Wages and the immediate implementation of Skipping of CONRAISS by NAFDAC Management as directed by the extant circular of November 4, 2014 based on the National Industrial Court’s judgment in favour of JOHESU.
Others were ratification of all outstanding promotional arrears from 2012 to 2014, full payment of 13th month allowances, full payment of eight months pension arrears from May to December, 2012 for 2012 set of NAFDAC employees and the return of GMPS, Trainings, workshops and conferences