The state leadership of NLC and TUC must organise solidarity action to prevail on Makinde-led government to accede to the union’s demands!
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, CDWR, Oyo state branch, welcomes the decision of the members and leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Oyo state chapter over the 14-Day ultimatum issued to Seyi Makinde-led government of the state. The ultimatum which has started running since May 2, 2024 is expected to culminate in an indefinite strike should the union’s demands are not acceded to on or before May 21, 2024.
According to media reports, the demands of the union include implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure, correction of the wrong National date on promotion letter and recruitment of more nurses and midwives in the state among others. We of the CDWR support all these demands and call on the state government to accede to them before the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum to avert an avoidable shutdown of all the public hospitals across the state. The fact that nurses had to issue an ultimatum has further underscored our consistent position in the CDWR that Makinde-led government is never and far from being called a workers’ friendly. No worker friendly government will allow ultimatum to be issued on things that affect the living and working conditions of workers. Indeed, this issue of nurses especially shows how insensitive is Governor Makinde to the plight of ordinary people. His anti-worker attitude has contributed to the lingering shortage of nurses and other health workers in the state. It is important to state that most nurses and other health workers relocate out of the country largely because of relatively poor pay and working conditions.
This therefore shows that a concerted and determined struggle of nurses and Midwives including other workers across the state will be required to prevail on the Makinde-led government before all the demands will be acceded to. It is on this basis, we call on the state leadership of NANNM to immediately commence mobilization of both their members and general public in preparation for a possible strike and mass action which must be non-negotiable should the state government fail to accede to their demands at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum.
The state leadership of the union are hereby urged to produce mobilisation materials like posters and leaflets to sensitise both the members and general public on the basis for the ultimatum with an appeal for their support. This will help build enough forces required to compel the state government to accede to their demands The state leadership of the NLC and TUC must also be ready to organise a statewide solidarity action in order to strengthen the nurses and midwives with a view to force Makinde-led government to accede to their demands.
Signed
Abiodun Bamigboye (Abbey Trotsky)
CDWR State Coordinator