The National Agency for Food and Drug Control, NAFDAC, is losing N120 million naira weekly because of the strike by some workers in the health sector, the Secretary, Medical and Health Workers Union, NAFDAC, chapter, Anzaku Peter, has said.
“I can tell you authoritatively that on weekly basis, the agency loses over N120 million from the nation’s ports alone. So, you can imagine what will be happening at the other formations of the agency”, Mr. Peter told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Friday in Lagos.
He said that the offices of the agency in the 36 states and Abuja as well as its offices at both the sea and airports had been shut down indefinitely.
“Our officials in all the agency’s offices across the country are in full compliance with the strike and they have vacated their duty posts”, he said. “This week, we have locked our operational offices at Seme, Idi-Iroko, Apapa and at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO, Lagos.
“As at today, we have not heard anything from the management and this is not okay for the agency. The strike will continue indefinitely until all demands are met”.
Mr. Peter said the refusal of the government to convert NAFDAC workers from the Consolidated Researchers and Allied Workers Salary Structure to Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure was the major reason for the strike.
According to him, other demands include non-payment of allowances, such as, productivity, promotion and 13th month.
He urged the management of the agency to negotiate with the federal government on behalf of the workers to meet their demands.
On November 12, NAFDAC workers embarked on nationwide strike over poor working conditions, unresolved wage structure and unpaid allowances.
(NAN)
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