Rivers health workers withdraw suit against NLC
Primary health care workers in Rivers state have withdrawn a case they filed six months ago against the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on grounds their welfare was neglected in the application of a harmonised salary scale for health care workforce. Both sides with appear before the National Industrial Court to announce […]
Primary health care workers in Rivers state have withdrawn a case they filed six months ago against the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on grounds their welfare was neglected in the application of a harmonised salary scale for health care workforce.
Both sides with appear before the National Industrial Court to announce they have resolved to settle out of court, Daily Trust learnt on Saturday.
"We have wasted two years speech making," said Joe Biobelemoye," president of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN).
"On Monday, we walk to court and tell the world that health workers ate civilised people and can resolve issues among themselves."
"Only then we can resolve and see their issues sorted out in the state," Beatrice Itubo, who chairs NLC in Rivers and was former state chairperson of MHWUN in Rivers when the contention started three years ago.
"When you are speaking as a body, undivided, I think government will hear what you are saying," she said, explaining outcome expected after both sides resolved to settle internal differences.
More than 3000 workers in primary health, under the aegis of MHWUN, were left out of harmonised health salary scale across the 23 local government areas of Rivers after council authorities failed to implement the scale for them.
Officials say no two local government health workers are paid similarly, and computation of pay and benefits are at the unilateral discretion of council authorities.
Representatives of primary health care workers from Rivers met NLC president Ayuba Wabba in a solidarity visit in Abuja on Saturday ahead of their Monday appearance before the Industrial Court.
Wabba said resolving the dispute meant the "unity and sanctity of our movement is protected", insisting it would strengthen workers’ bargaining power.
"Let’s not be under any illusion that any employer will give you your rights on a platter of gold, because there are competing demands," he said.
Rivers and Benue are among priority states the NLC will tackle for not paying workers and pensioners, insisting worker pay and resulting spending power could help lift the country out of recession.
"Payment of salaries is not about resources; it is about priorities and we are not getting it right," Wabba said of defaulting states.
"For any system to get out of recession, citizens must have resources to buy and sell and pull the economy out of recession," he noted.
Speaking about continued neglect of worker demands, Wabba said, "Most of our workers are treated as slaves. Employment is a contract. We work, and it is difficult for [employers] to meet the terms of bargain."