Despite the Edo State Government’s position that the warning strike embarked upon by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, was ill-conceived, the workers on Sunday vowed to continue the industrial action, which began at midnight on Friday.

In a message sent to members on Sunday and sighted by our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of the union, Iduwe Endurance, urged members to comply fully with the union’s directive.

He noted that anything short of total compliance would not be tolerated.

The message read: “Total compliance is required, and anything short of that will not be tolerated.”

PUNCH Online recalls that the union, in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Osagie Ogbeide, and Secretary, Barivure Kpakol, last week, said a 14-day ultimatum given to the state government had expired on Thursday.

The duo directed members to proceed on a seven-day warning strike, noting that the government had not shown sufficient commitment to meeting their demands.

The union directed all members to withdraw their services “with immediate effect in all state and local government health facilities until the state government demonstrates genuine commitment and takes concrete actions towards addressing the union’s outstanding demands for its members.”

However, Governor Monday Okpebholo frowned at the strike, alleging that it was being orchestrated by some union leaders for their selfish interests.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Saturday, said the government had been engaged in negotiations on the issues raised and viewed the strike as “ill-timed, unpatriotic, and wholly unjustified, especially coming at a time when meaningful negotiations between the union and the government are ongoing.”

The statement added that a meeting to continue negotiations with the state government had already been scheduled for Monday (today), noting that the issues raised by the union were largely inherited from the past administration of Godwin Obaseki.

It read in part: “Among the demands of the union is the renovation of the doctors’ quarters, which is already receiving the attention of the state government, alongside other welfare-related matters.

“It is therefore shocking and disappointing that the leadership of the union would hastily declare a strike, claiming government insensitivity, when, in fact, the present administration has demonstrated open-mindedness, good faith, and a proactive resolve to improve the health sector.

“This abrupt decision by the union leadership not only undermines ongoing dialogue but also exposes a lack of sincerity and respect for the negotiation process.

“The Edo State Government finds no merit in the call for this strike. The action appears driven by ulterior motives and extra financial demands known only to a few individuals in the union’s leadership, to the detriment of the general membership.

“Failure to yield to these unlawful financial demands from certain officials of the state government by a few greedy members of the union’s leadership birthed this ill-conceived industrial action.”

The governor stated that the strike had placed the lives of poor and helpless Edo citizens, especially those in need of urgent medical attention, at risk, adding that such an action amounted to a betrayal of the Hippocratic Oath, which places the preservation of human life above all else.

However, some of the workers who spoke to PUNCH Online on Sunday said they would only suspend the action if directed by their leadership.

A member, who pleaded anonymity, said the workers stood with their union leaders and expressed hope that the issues would be resolved before the warning strike ended.

The member said: “We are with our leaders in this, and we can only hope that negotiations will be concluded before the end of the warning strike.” (Sunday PUNCH)