The Federal Government on Wednesday decried the uncooperative attitude of striking health workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State in spite of government’s efforts to resolve the impasse.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute, said this in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Press, Ayotunde Adesugba.
The statement said the striking workers had defied all overtures put forward by the Federal Government to resolve the controversy.
It said: The ministry finds it very disturbing, the way and manner some of the health workers unions have been embarking on strike.
“This in many instances has not only resulted in gross impunity but has also led to the breakdown of law and order in some federal medical institutions.
“The unsatisfactory conduct exhibited by the striking health professional union under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals has become very embarrassing.”
It said the actions of the workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri had degenerated into the disruption of services, hooliganism and breakdown of law and order.
According to the statement, right now the union members have put the hospital under siege, sacking the Chief Medical Director, the management of the hospital and patients in critical conditions in the hospital.
The statement regretted the refusal of the unions to cooperate with government to find lasting solutions to their grievances.
It said the former Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo, had met on several occasions with representatives of the workers and the management to end the crisis, but to no avail.
The statement added: “Predicated on the belief that dialogue is the best way to resolve disputes, the management of the federal ministry of health had since the commencement of the strike held meetings with the union.
“These meetings were called to effectively dialogue; seek practical avenues to resolve union grievances and put an end to the incessant strike actions.”
According to the statement, the action of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals in FMC Owerri is inauspicious, in bad faith and unpatriotic as the timing is even suspicious.
It said the ministry was committed to finding a lasting solution to the grievances of the unions as demonstrated by its recent actions, adding: “These unions are hereby called to give peace a chance.
“Nevertheless, management cannot sit and fold its arms in the face of violence, wilful damage of government property and impunity being perpetrated by some misguided members of the unions.
“We are determined to demonstrate positive change by visiting strong sanctions on cases of impunity and unsatisfactory conduct recorded in the course of this strike.
“This is by using the Public Service Rules which govern the engagement of the services of staff in the public service domain.”
NAN.