TheCable

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Ondo state chapter, has asked its members to commence a three-day warning strike over salary arrears.

In a letter dated February 26 and signed by Aina Oluwasegun, the association’s secretary, the members are to embark on the strike on Monday.

Oluwasegun said the decision was reached at a meeting held on February 16, which resolved that the state government should pay 100 percent salary of January 2017, December 2020, January 2021, 20 percent balance of December 2016 and 50 percent November 2020.

According to NAN, the association also wants the government to implement a new salary adjustment for local government nurses within seven working days.

“Following the expiration of the seven working days ultimatum without a response from the government, you are directed to proceed on three days warning strike from 12 a.m. on Monday, March 1 to March 3 at first instance,” Oluwasegun said.

“The association also lamented shortage of nurses in all government’s hospitals, obsolete nursing tools to work with, which are leading to brain drain in nursing service of the hospital management board.”

Doctors in the state had embarked on an indefinite strike three weeks ago.

The forum which consists of the Association Of Resident Doctors, Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners — lamented poor working conditions, noting that 50 percent salary payment was unacceptable by the unions.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ondo is a top five state in COVID-19 admission rate.