The Delta State Government has called on the Delta State Council of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives to call off the state-wide strike action embarked upon by the association in view of the fruitful tripartite meeting between the association, the state health commissioner and Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State chapter.
The Commissioner for Health, Delta State; Dr. Mordi Ononye made the call, Friday in Asaba in reaction to the strike action by the nurses and midwives over demotion of principals of nursing and midwifery schools and imposition of a junior nursing officer as director of nursing services.
Our reporter gathered that other issues that led to the strike action include: promotion, arrears and uniform allowance for the health staff.
Dr. Ononye expressed “dismay that the Association could call on their members to embark on an indefinite strike just a day after the fruitful tripartite meeting.”
He said the meeting which held Wednesday, December 2, was convened as a follow-up to previous meetings with officials of the association to resolve the contending issues.
The commissioner noted that decision was reached for suspension of the proposed strike action to enable stakeholders deliberate more on the matters.
He said “the committee which was to use cadre of the nurses and nominal roll as criteria for determining the seniority of nurses” in the state has up to January 31, 2021 to submit its report.
Dr Ononye added that participants in the meetings agreed that the health sector cannot afford a strike action after #ENDSARS protest, the outbreak of yellow fever in the state as well as the ongoing mass vaccination to contain the spread of the disease.
He expressed worry that the nurses/midwives association jettisoned the decision to shelve the proposed strike action.