4th October, 2017
Workers at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) say they will continue with their strike despite the appointment of an Acting Director-General for the agency.
The Vice Chairman of the NAFDAC chapter of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Mr Idzi Isua, said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
Isua explained that the issue of welfare was the main reason the workers embarked on the industrial action on Sept. 22.
According to the union leader, the main issue has not been resolved.
NAN recalls that NAFDAC’s workers went on strike on demand for specific allowance and appointment of either an acting or substantive director-general for the agency.
The union had claimed that the former acting director-general, Mrs Yetunde Oni, had reached her mandatory retirement age.
NAN also reported that the Federal Government, through the acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Habiba Lawal, had since directed Mr Ademola Magbojuri, to take over from Oni.
Magbojuri is the most senior director in the agency.
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But reacting on the development, the union leader said that in spite the appointment, NAFDAC offices would remain sealed until the issue of allowance, which was more germane to members, was addressed.
He disclosed that some of the executive members of the union on Tuesday met with the new acting director-general in Lagos and he had promised to take their demand up to the appropriate authority.
Isua said that the workers would remain at home and observe how the new acting D-G would handle the issue before deciding whether to suspend or continue with the strike.
“As I speak to you now, I am returning from Lagos where we met with the acting D-G and he promised to take up the matter.
“We are on the way to Abuja to brief the President of our mother union JOHESU on the outcome of our meeting with the new acting D-G,” he said.
NAN observed that the NAFDAC head office in Abuja was still under lock and key as at 9.30 a.m on Wednesday, with only security guards seen at the gate.