In a concerning development for healthcare delivery in Rivers State, the primary healthcare workers are threatening to shut down health facilities across the state due to a protracted dispute over unpaid promotion arrears.
The chairperson of the Medical and Health Workers Union, Bapakaye James, announced this development in a recent podcast with Nigeria Info Today on November 6th.
According to Bapakaye, the healthcare workers have been left with no choice but to take drastic action due to the non-payment of their promotion arrears, which have been pending for months. “Junior healthcare workers’ arrears have not even been implemented for over 20 months, and senior workers’ arrears have been pending for over 9 months while traditional workers are not being owed,” she stated.
Bapakaye emphasized that “what is good for the goose is also good for the gander,” implying that healthcare workers deserve equal treatment.
The primary healthcare workers are demanding that they be treated similarly to their counterparts in other states, with a safe payroll system where the state pays them directly. “Healthcare workers should be moved to a safe payroll system,” Bapakaye demanded.
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Mr. Joseph Ifukibot, an executive member of the union, revealed that an ultimatum had been given to the government last year before the suspension of the Rivers State government, which has long been overdue.
Ifukibot explained that the strike had been intentionally delayed because of the effect it would have on the masses, as they would suffer, he said. “An agreement was reached in April that all allowances should be paid immediately if the same government releases allocations to the various local governments, but that has not been done,” he added.
Bapakaye disclosed that the Local Government and principal officers are responsible for payment of the primary healthcare workers across all LGAs. She expressed her disappointment that within the South-South, Rivers State is way behind. “The LGA principal officers think that healthcare workers cannot earn more than other workers in the local government,” she lamented.
The union has given the government a stern warning, stating that “the services of the primary healthcare workers will be withdrawn” if their demands are not met. The impending strike by primary healthcare workers poses a significant threat to healthcare delivery in Rivers State.
If the strike goes ahead, it could lead to a breakdown in essential health services, putting the lives of patients at risk. The state government must intervene to resolve the impasse and ensure that healthcare workers receive their rightful entitlements.
