CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Health workers in Cross River State have completed plans to commence strike in seven days time, beginning from today, 14th May 2025.
This follows the 7-day ultimatum issued by the Joint Action Committee of Health Sector Unions in the state on 9th May and jointly signed on 13th May by heads of six unions, including MHWUN, NANNM, NUAHP, AMLSN, ASUP and SSANIP.
The notice of the 7-day ultimatum addressed to the state governor, Senator Bassey Otu, disclosed that the government is yet to act on an offer of payment of 15% of the differential between the current salary structure and the 2024 reviewed structures demanded by the unions.
This notice read as follows:
“On behalf of workers in the health sector of Cross River State, we once again extend to Your
Excellency, fraternal greetings.
Your Excellency, recall that the Joint Action Committee of Health Sector Unions in Cross River State recently issued a 14-day ultimatum arising from the non-resolution of some teething issues in the health sector. In reaction, the government – through the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Health – set up a committee to engage the unions and address our demands. Government made an offer of payment of 15% of the differential between the current salary structure and the 2024 reviewed structures demanded by the unions. As patriotic citizens and in consideration of the economic situation of our dear State, representatives of the unions agreed to this offer despite it being a very far cry from what it ought to be. This was with the understanding that this agreement was to take effect from April 2025 and will be reviewed when the economic situation of the State improves as reflected in the committee’s report.
However, the status quo shows that government has reneged on this agreement and we feel betrayed and disappointed despite having acted in good faith for the interest of our State.
Consequently, unions in the health sector have decided to go ahead with the industrial action and do hereby jointly issue a seven (7) day ultimatum beginning from Wednesday, 14th May 2025. If there is no change in the status quo by the expiration of this ultimatum, then we will be left with the unavoidable and regrettable option of embarking on an indefinite strike.
The unions involved in this action are:
- Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN)
- National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM)
- Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP)
- Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP)
- Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP)
Your Excellency, our prayer is that the agreement be implemented with effect from April, 2025 as reflected in the committee’s report. It is our expectation that the government will deploy diligence in resolving this issue to avoid an indefinite shutdown of the health sector in the coming weeks.
His Excellency is assured of our utmost regards.
Signed:
COMR EMMANUEL T. AMOR, Chairman (MHWUN)
COMR EJEHERI VICTOR (PhD), State Secretary (MHWUN)
COMR JOSEPHINE BASSEY, State Chairperson (NANNM)
COMR IMMACULATA NJOKU, State Secretary (NANNM)
COMR OROK OKON, Chapter Chairman (NUAHP)
COMR EQUALI VALENTINE, Chapter Chairman (AMLSN)
DR ISAAC R. BASSEY, State Chajrman (ASUP)
COMR ASUQUO ODIONG, State Secretary (ASUP)
COMR EFFANG AEFFIONG A., State Chairman (SSANIP)
COMR ENI BASSEY USANG, State Secretary (SSANIP)”
