Bayelsa health workers begin strike over unpaid salary arrears Friday

Health workers in Bayelsa will begin an indefinite strike on Friday over non-payment of salary arrears by the state government.

The Chairman of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in the state, Mr. Barnabas Simon, who gave the notice in a statement on Wednesday in Yenagoa, said the union members were owed between two and 15 months’ salary arrears.

Simon expressed displeasure over many unresolved issues by the government, saying the crisis affects primary health care workers in the eight local government areas in the state.

He said the workers had given the government notice on the strike which would expire on Thursday.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Bayelsa govt to pay special allowances to frontline health workers

“The Bayelsa State Council of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria is hereby directing all her members to down tools from February 12 after the expiration of the ultimatum on February 11,” he said.

According to him, the strike had become imperative following the state government’s refusal to address the workers’ grievances.

Simon said the health workers were also demanding the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage across the eight LGAs.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now