The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) branch, has reiterated its commitment to an ongoing strike action that began on October 7, demanding urgent attention to several pressing issues affecting its members.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, the Chapter Chairman, Adetoboye Ayodeji, emphasized that the onus is on the agency’s management to initiate negotiations and provide actionable evidence that their demands will be addressed.
The strike, which is now in its third week, centres on the review of the 2024 promotion examinations and alleged irregularities surrounding staff promotions.
Ayodeji expressed dissatisfaction with the management’s handling of promotion examinations, stating that many staff members who qualified were not promoted due to purported “vacancy slots” from the Head of Service.
This situation has left a significant number of qualified individuals feeling overlooked and demoralized.
“Workers of the agency are demanding to know why those who passed the promotion examinations are still waiting for their rightful promotions while new recruits are brought into the agency,” he said.
He highlighted that only 36 percent of the over 700 participants in the promotion examinations were promoted, a figure the union deems unacceptable.
“There can never be motivation in an agency where only 36 percent of staff are promoted. We are calling for at least 80 percent of participants to be recognized for their achievements,” Ayodeji insisted.
He warned that the current state of discontent among workers could adversely affect the morale and performance of NAFDAC staff, ultimately impacting public health services for the nation’s population of 200 million.
Moreover, Ayodeji pointed to unresolved statutory arrears and benefits for staff employed in 2022 as further grievances that prompted the strike.
He noted that despite a 2022 agreement with the government and NAFDAC management to improve working conditions, many of these issues remain unaddressed.
“Allowances that were supposed to be approved by December 2022 have not been released, and the conditions of service remain unresolved,” he lamented.
The union’s leadership has taken steps to engage with the management, writing multiple letters outlining their concerns, yet they claim responses have been inadequate.
The lack of engagement and the decision to initiate a strike followed a two-week notice issued to the management without any satisfactory reply.
