Barring any intervention by the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, health workers in the state will on October 31 embark on a strike over the failure of the state government to meet their demands.
The healthcare workers in the state under the aegis of the Coalition of Health Professionals had issued a 14-day ultimatum which would expire next Tuesday if nothing was done to assuage their feelings.
The coalition is demanding the domestication and implementation of the call duty allowance circular of 2014, the reviewed hazard allowance of 2021, and the reviewed Consolidated Health Salary Structure of 2023.
A petition to the governor obtained by Saturday Niger Delta Herald indicated that it had previously written to the governor (Diri) on August 8, 2023, and October 2, 2023, regarding the subject matter.
The letter titled, ‘Re: Request for audience; SOS in the health sector’, was dated October 17, 2023,
The letter was signed by the State Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Fil Samuel; the state Secretary of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Zebedee Udu; and the state Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Monovie Elliot.
“We also wish to inform you of the agitation for the domestication of the new entry point for graduate nurses, medical laboratory scientists and pharmacists in Bayelsa State.
“In our resolve to ensure that the above requests are fulfilled without industrial disharmony or dispute, we pacified our members to be patient with your government, especially considering the fact that you gave directives for the implementation of most of the above demands during your May Day speech of 2022 and 2023.
“We are therefore constrained to inform you that we can no longer pacify our members because they are faced with the economic burden caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and the obvious neglect of health care workers.”
The coalition had earlier protested to the office of the governor.
“The ultimatum starts from the 17th of October, 2023, and expires on the midnight of the 31st of October, 2023. Take note that this coalition will not be held responsible for any action it deems fit to take at the expiration of the ultimatum,” the letter added.
The Bayelsa State Health Commissioner, Dr Pabara Newton-Igwele, said his office was not aware of the ultimatum.
He said, “My office is not aware.”
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