Posted by By Umoru Henry and Ibeneme Ebele on
THE health workers in the Federal Capital Territory yesterday commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as non-implementation of the monetization policy, just as they said they were piqued by government's inability to pay them their six months monetization arrears two years after the policy was introduced by the Federal government.
ABUJA- THE health workers in the Federal Capital Territory yesterday commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as non-implementation of the monetization policy, just as they said they were piqued by government's inability to pay them their six months monetization arrears two years after the policy was introduced by the Federal government.
Comprised mainly of resident doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory attendants, the workers are also tackling el-Rufai for his failure to pay them their 22 per cent salary increase as according to them, reflected in this year's health budget.
FCT Chairman, Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Charles Nzelu said in Abuja that following this lapse, the workers have resolved to embark on an indefinite strike, having issued one week notice for their action, adding that they were defying all attempts by the authorities to discourage them from carrying out their plan until the authorities yield to their demands.
"You may wish to recall that for sometime now, we have been negotiating with FCTA administration about the implementation of 22 per cent increment in health workers emoluments'', he said.
"Despite the assurances received both orally and in writing that the money will be paid when the FCT budget is passed, the authority has not kept its own side of the agreement three months after the FCTA budget has been approved by the National Assembly.
"We are particularly bothered considering the fact that we are entering the last quarter of the year and no concrete step has been taken to effect the payment, despite inclusion of the money for 22 per cent increment in health workers' emolument and arrears of six months monetization in the 2005 budget".