Health workers in Ekiti State are prepared to begin a 7-day warning strike from Monday to press for the payment of their outstanding benefits by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The health workers under the aegis of the Ekiti State Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), disclosed this via a letter dated September 25, 2022, and addressed to the Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Kayode Olabanji.

The letter was signed by Chairmen of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives(NANNM), Com. Monde C.K, and  Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Com Farotimi O.O. Other signatories are: Chairmen of  Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria(MHWUN), Com Olaiya A.M. and Senior Staff Association(SSA), Com. Arigbede T.

The letter which was titled: ‘Notice of 7-Day Warning Strike ‘, and made made available tonews men on Saturday, disclosed that members were being owed 14 months unremitted cooperative deductions, among other benefits attached to promotions without verifiable evidence of government’s commitment to pay in due course.

The letter read: “With reference to our letter dated August 28, 2020 and September 18, 2020, with the following agitations: 14 months unremitted deductions, promotion letters and its financial implementation, conversion/ advancement and 2020 promotion exercise for our members, we write to inform you of our intention to proceed on a  7- day warning strike.

“It is a fact that based on your letter of September 23, 2020, your response has no commitment towards our agitations.

“It is on this premise that the congress resolved to embark on a 7-day warning strike commencing from Monday, September 28, 2020.”

Note that the EKSUTH management had last year severed some workers on the premise that they then had an over-bloated workforce, which was affecting the hospital’s capacity to pay staff’s benefits and procurement of equipment.

The staff expected that their demands to have been met, having proclaimed that the downsizing was meant to make the hospital responsible to payment of all benefits to workers as and when due.