Nigerian health workers launch strike over hazard pay

Nigerian health workers have commenced a strike action on Monday over non payment of COVID-19 bonuses and inadequate facilities.

This strike action comes four days after resident doctors in the country called off their strike.

The Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) who called for the strike comprises health workers in the fore front of the country’s battle against coronavirus which includes pharmacists, nurses, midwives and radiographers.

The strike was prompted after they held a meeting with the authorities who failed to agree to its demands on the back pay, a virus hazard allowance as well as badly needed hospital repairs.

“It was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the federal government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive,” the union said.

As of midnight Sunday, “our members shall withdraw their services due to the federal government’s inability to meet their demands,” it added in a statement.

However, the Nigerian government has condemned the strike as unnecessary, ill-timed and illegal.

Nigeria has so far recorded 56,256 cases and 1,082 deaths.

“Any strike now is inimical to an equable settlement of the dispute, bearing in mind especially that this is a grave period of a pandemic,” the labour ministry said in a statement late Sunday.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control over 1,000 health workers have been infected,