FG Wants To Sanction Striking Health Workers

             

The Federal Government on Wednesday said it would sanction any case of breakdown of law and order under the cover of strike.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, said government was worried with the way some of the health workers unions have been embarking on strike.

Awute stated: "The unsatisfactory conduct exhibited by the striking health professional union under the aegis of NUAHP has become very embarrassing, in the face of millions of other qualified Nigerian citizens looking for gainful employment out there.

"At the centre of this trend of impunity is the faction or branch of NUAHP in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.


 "At the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, the situation has degenerated into the disruption of services, hooliganism and a breakdown of law and order. Right now the union members, (NUAHP), have put the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, under siege, sacking the MD, management of the hospital and patients in critical conditions under the care of the hospital."

"Nevertheless, management cannot sit and fold its arms in the face of violence, willful damage of government property and impunity being perpetrated by some misguided members of the unions. We are determined to demonstrate positive change by visiting strong sanctions on cases of impunity and unsatisfactory conduct recorded in the course of this strike, using the public service rules which govern the engagement of the services of staff in the public service domain.

"The ministry will however continue to open all available channels for dialogue, seek for peaceful resolutions of knotty issues, while we continue to appeal to the Unions particularly the FMC Owerri Branch of the NUAHP.

"The National Leadership has also been reached once again with a formal letter appealing to them to urgently go back to work or vacate the siege of the hospital in their own interest and in the interest of peace and harmony in the hospital."he said

The problem in FMC Owerri started when a proposal by the Medical Director, Dr. Angela Uwakwem, to initiate a Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement in the institution met with resistance from the workers. The union also accused her of high handedness among other allegations and are calling for her sack.