TheCable

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has advised the federal government to take urgent steps to address the concerns of health workers.

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on a strike on August 2, after accusing the federal government of irregular payment of salaries, among other issues.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have also issued ultimatums to the federal government.

The PFN, while expressing concern over the effects of such strikes, as well as the proposed industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), urged the federal government to organise education and health summits to address the challenges facing the sectors.

Francis Oke, PFN national president, in a statement on Wednesday, also said there is a need for the declaration of a state of emergency on the health and education sectors.

“The PFN takes notice of the notice issued by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the 15-day ultimatum by the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals Association (JOHESU),” the statement reads.

“We also saw the notice by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which might plunge the two sectors into another round of crisis.

“We, however, call for immediate action on the part of the government to comprehensively address all the issues facing the two critical sectors.

“Organise summits, come up with creative solutions to meet the funding gap, design emolument package that will keep Nigerian professionals being trained at enormous cost by the country from moving out in droves to other countries.”