Workers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), have suspended their strike and will be returning to work Monday, December 1, after a long deliberation with the Federal Ministry of Health.

Briefing newsmen yesterday at NAFDAC office, Lagos, Chairman, MHWUN, Federal Area Council, Comrade Stephen Ibeh, said the union took the decision at the end of the meeting which took place at the office of the Ministry of Labour, Abuja, Tuesday, following an agreement with Federal Government to look into the salary structure.

The meeting had in attendant delegates from MHWUN, Salary and Wages Commission, Ministry of Health, among others.

According to him, a committee of three delegates has been sent to look into the Consolidated Research Institute (CONRISS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) salary structures and the committee has ten days to develop a befitting salary structure for NAFDAC workers.

“After relaying our grievances to government, after much deliberation, it was obvious the union was not making unnecessary noise. The forum sympathised with the workers and have set up a three-man delegate to look into the salary structure,” he said.

Apologising to Nigerians for the strike, Ibe explained that the union was pushed to the wall, hence the decision, saying, “We are appealing to all well-meaning Nigerians to please bear with us. Considering that NAFDAC safeguards the health of the nation, we know that some of the enemies of this country must be doing all sorts of havoc already.”

He called on government to live up to its promise of providing a befitting salary structure at the end of ten days, warning, “If government relents in its effort to fulfil the salary structure as promised, we will not hesitate to go back to strike.”

•Source: Newswatch Times. Photo shows NAFDAC DG, Dr. Paul Orhi.

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