Non-payment of allowances, promotion arrears: Striking workers ground NAFDAC, vow to continue month-long action

Workers under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have vowed to continue with their strike.

Persecondnews recalls that the workers had embarked on strike on June 23, 2022 to pressure the management to pay their regulatory and hazard allowances as well as the arrears of promotion for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

“The strike continues until the management show better understanding, we cannot be working for contractors that have been revealed to be mostly associated with persons that are supposed to be up and doing in the areas of our welfare.

“A congress and media briefing will be held next week at a date to be communicated after the holiday.

“We therefore appeal to members to be on standby as you will be informed accordingly,’’ the union’s Secretary, Comrade Adetoboye Ayodeji Raphael, said in a statement dated July 7, 2022.

The statement titled, “Summary Of Update On Recent Meetings’’,  was given to Persecondnews on Tuesday.

On the hazard allowance, the union said the management initially offered to pay hazard allowance of 20% annual but the union leadership rejected the offer, insisting on the 30% annual as contained in the committee’s report  for  the  review  of  NAFDAC  allowances.

“As  at  yesterday  meeting  Ju ly 6,  2022,  the Governing Board and Management has agreed on the payment of the full 30% annual allowance before the strike can be suspended.’’

On promotion arrears, the statement said:“As at yesterday 6 J uly, 2022, the management agreed to only pay promotion arrears for year 20 I 8 immediately while they may consider paying the balance of promotion arrears of year 20 19 , 2020 and full payment for year 2021 sometimes in September.

“The Union rejected management proposal and insisted on fuJI payment of all promotion arrears immediately before suspension of the strike action.”

The union, however, expressed disappointment with the management that the regulatory allowance was not included in the 2022 budget after it was sent in 2021 to National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission for approval.

It urged members of staff to be united in the ongoing struggle until their demands were met.