Pay our withheld salary, health workers appeal to Buhari

THE Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Ministry of Health to pay two months salary owed its members.

Besides, the union demanded immediate payment of four months salary of its members at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, which was withheld by the management of the centre for whistle-blowing.

The union begged President Buhari to intervene and ensure that the Ministry of Health releases the money without further delay.

President of MHWUN, Comrade Josiah Biobelemoye, made the appeal during a courtesy visit of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, to the union’s headquarters in Abuja.

For withholding the salary of only the medical workers, Biobelemoye accused the Ministry of Health of playing double standard.

He explained that the Ministry of Health withheld the salary of the workers for the months of April and May 2018 under the guise of no work no pay rule, following a strike action.

He accused the ministry of playing double standard because in the same health sector others, especially the doctors, have gone on strike and same law was invoked but was later withdrawn.

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Biobelemoye said: “What we are saying is that why is our own case different? Even though no work no pay is a law, strike is also a law and if other people also went on strike but you decided to withdraw the no work no pay law, why don’t you also withdraw our own.

“We want to plead with you to use your office, because we know you can help us and prevail on the ministry to pay the salaries of our members for the months of April and May 2018.  Also, we have four months salary of our members which was withheld.

“They were also denied promotion and the reason was because our members in FMC Owerri blew a whistle over corruption. We also want you to help us talk to the authorities to construct the access road leading to the national headquarters of the union located at Durumi area of Area 1, Garki Abuja.”

Speaking further, Biobelemoye said it was sad for the ministry officials to punish his members for exposing corruption, stressing that this had weakened the morale of MHWUN members.

The AGF, Mr Idris applauded the union for being prudent with the money collected on behalf of the workers.

He said with the structure put together by the union and other projects ongoing, it is clear that the leadership are upright.

On the appeal made by the union, the AGF said he would meet the appropriate authorities with the view of addressing the workers’ demands.