The Federal Government has appealed to nurses to call off the ongoing strike, saying the contentious issues can be resolved through negotiations.
But the striking nurses, while reacting to the federal government, said they will not do so based on promises.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives – Federal Health Institutions Sector, NANNM-FHI, on Wednesday, commenced their 7-day warning strike.
The Federal Government had said it would be meeting with the leadership of the nurses and doctors today, Friday, in a bid to thrash out all the issues that led to the strike.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Alli Pate, told newsmen in Abuja that all the issues that led to the nurses’ strike have been looked into and actions have been taken by the government to address the situation.
The National Chairman of the NANNM-FHI, Comrade Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, on Thursday, said “The Minister of Labour invited the leadership on Tuesday, which was the last day of that ultimatum.
“But the meeting ended in a deadlock because those that were supposed to be on ground at the meeting were not there, especially our mother ministry.
“The Minister of Health was not there, Head of Service of the Federation was not there, so the meeting ended in a deadlock.
“As yesterday (Wednesday) too, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare invited the leadership, and the meeting was still inconclusive. Probably it will continue either today or tomorrow (tomorrow).
Rilwan reaffirmed the Union’s position to not budge.
He told newsmen that mere promises are not enough to halt the strike, warning that the industrial action would persist except parts of its key demands are met by the federal government.
His words: “But we waited for a long time for all these demands to be met. So, this strike happens to be the last option we have to get the government’s attention.
“We must see commitment; based on the insincerity and insensitivity on the part of the government, I believe some parts of these demands must be met before we can suspend the strike. We have to see serious commitment from the government before taking that step.
“There is no tentative agreement. We have to reach an agreement before we can say the meeting is conclusive. There has to be an MoU signed by the stakeholders before we can say the meeting is conclusive,” Rilwan stressed.
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