NAFDAC workers begin indefinite strike[SEE REASONS]

The management and staff impasse that has highlighted activities at the National Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in recent months took a frightening dimension yesterday as the workers embarked on what they called indefinite strike to press home their demands.

Among the demands directed at the federal government through the Ministry of Health were effecting the Consolidated Salary Structure, appointment of a substantive Director-General after the retirement of incumbent, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, which took effect on September 21 when she clocked 60 years of age, as well as the appointment of a Board for the regulatory agency.

Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (NAFDAC Chapter), Comrade Peter Joseph Anzaku, who addressed the agency’s workers and the media at the start of the strike yesterday at the NAFDAC’s Corporate Headquarters in Isolo, Lagos, said the workers’ had exhausted their patience with the authorities and were faced with no other choice but to down tools.

“We have been dehumanised enough and as a union, we feel it is time to demonstrate that we cannot take this anymore,” Anzaku, who is also a Chief Regulatory Officer at NAFDAC, affirmed at the occasion where workers of the agency and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were also present.

Anzaku recalled that the union’s quest for worker’s welfare started in 2011 when representations were made to all relevant bodies at the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidency, but regretted that their demands were routinely ignored, even as the demands of resident doctors were met each time they embarked on strike within the same period to press for improved welfare.

“The tenure of the immediate past DG has not been helpful to our cause and every efforts we made, especially with regard to payment of outstanding emoluments which amounted to N2.6 billion, was frustrated,” he said, adding, “the strike had both internal and external effects to make it effective. “We deserve the best treatment in view of the income that NAFDAC generates for the country and the fact that the health safety of over 170 million Nigerians is in our hands.”