Africa Press-Nigeria:
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Emmanuel has ordered striking health workers in the State to resume work with immediate effect or risk being sacked.
Recall that the Joint Health Workers Union JOHESU had on Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike after a 15-day ultimatum given to the State government to accede to their demands elapsed.
The demands among others were to be given 50% of their basic salary as hazard allowance, reinstatement of about 720 sacked local government health workers, release of circular on implementation of the agreed 80 per cent of the National Consolidated Health Salary Structure and the recruitment of more health workers due to the shortfall occasioned by death and retirement.
But the State Government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Udoh on Wednesday said the strike action embarked upon by the union was ill-conceived.
Udoh described as ‘unreasonable’ JOHESU’s demand for payment of 50% of basic salaries as hazard allowance in the prevailing harsh economic climate.
The Statement reads in parts, “This is in spite of concerted efforts by government to provide the best of working conditions for health workers in the state, including up to date payment of all due salaries and allowances, which makes our state one of the best paying states in the health sector.
