This is following the expiration of different ultimatum issued to the
Managing Director, Dr. Jojo Onwukwe by the Joint Health Sector Union,
JOHESU, and other workers' union in the Federal government-owned
hospital.
Arising from an emergency congress on Thursday, the workers declared
indefinite strike over non-payment of their salary and other arrears.
The strike, according to the workers, resumed by 12 midnight, early
Friday, and will be total.
Addressing the workers at a protest rally where the industrial action
was announced, Mr. Ben Asogwa, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Allied
Health Professionals and Secretary Trade Union Congress, TUC, Enugu
State Chapter, said they had exhausted all avenues for dialogue to no
avail.
He said with effect from 12 midnight today, the workers would have no
choice than down tools pending when all their salary arrears were paid
to the last kobo.
This followed alleged refusal of Onwukwe to accede to the request of
the workers despite the requisite notices given to him.
The workers, under the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, had earlier
issued a 21-day ultimatum to the management of the hospital over a
litany of issues.
This was followed by another 7-day ultimatum, which also expired.
JOHESU's ultimatum borders on withheld salaries and arrears from
February 2017 till date; withheld promotion arrears, withheld teaching
allowance and enrollment of the hospital into the Integrated Payroll
Personnel Information System, IPPIS.
The ultimatum was signed by Comrades Ozurumba Anthony, Onu
Bank-Anthony, Sims Nwawgu, Ugwu Eric. A. Eze Mathew and Oduru Friday
on behalf of the JOHESU affiliate bodies.
The ultimatum was followed by another one by the University Graduates
of Nursing Science Association, UGONSA, signed by its president, Chief
S.E.O Egwuenu and the secretary, Nurse Goodluck Nshi.
The group alleged that there was escalating rascality, highhandedness,
corruption and abuse of civil service rules by the medical director.
According to the group, "the current situation in the hospital if not
checked will result in a breach of peace and a breakdown of law and
order."
They said peace would not return to the hospital without the immediate
implementation of the report of a panel earlier sent to the hospital
by the minister.
Meanwhile, further enquiries by DAILY POST showed that most of the
workers were no longer comfortable with Onwukwe's leadership.
Apart from the issues of salary, the workers are accusing him of
victimizing so many of them for various reasons.
The recent of such cases was that of the Principal and the Vice
Principal of the School of Post Basic Psychiatric Nursing, in the
Hospital, who he purportedly suspended over allegations of not issuing
students with licences, a move already declared null and void by the
federal ministry of health.
The said suspension was seen as a ploy to divert attention from
several weighty issues in the hospital.
The duo are not alone, as the head of clinical services, Dr. Bakare
faced similar suspension.
Investigations showed that the gale of suspensions, which have now
torn the hospital apart is not unconnected with the criminal trial of
the MD's personal secretary, Mrs. Stella Achalla.
Achalla is standing trial before an Enugu State High Court over
alleged job scam running into millions of naira.
Sources hinted that although over 60 victims of the said job scam
reported the matter to the police, which led to Achalla's arrest and
the on-going trial, the MD feels that the matter was being instigated
by some of the hospital workers.
Onwukwe was not on hand in the hospital when our correspondent made
efforts on Thursday to obtain his reaction shortly after the protest
rally.
0 Comments