Workers of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have commenced strike over non-payment of salaries.
The workers under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) announced the industrial action on Wednesday.
The union had in 2021 embarked on a seven-day warning strike to demand the payment of promotion arrears for 2018 and 2019 promotions owed its members.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos, the State chairman of the Union, Auwalu Yusuf Kiyawa, said the strike, begins with immediate effect, adding that the the workers will continue the strike until their welfare packages are paid.
However, DIPLOMATIC DIARY gathered that the Union is divided over the strike.
According to an insider source, only the Lagos and southern part of the union embarked on the strike.
The source said that while the entire union had agreed to the issue of welfare package, the Abuja and northern axis of the union disagreed that strike would achieve their demands, describing it as immature.
“According to the director of administration, the workers declared a strike action but the union is divided. The Lagos/southern people are the ones currently on strike. Abuja and the northern axis are not on strike. They are not all gathered in one place. The chairman is in Lagos and the vice-chairman is in Abuja.
“The Abuja axis believes that the strike is premature and that they will not join. As I speak with you, the staff in Abuja and other northern states are in their offices. They want to give management time.
“The management is trying to hold a meeting with them so until after that meeting, they will now decide. If management does not give in to their request, then they can join Lagos people.
“The issue is bordering on staff welfare. The Lagos and Abuja chapters are unanimous on the issue but the method of achieving it is what they disagree on, particularly the timing.
“The first meeting that was called did not hold because the permanent secretary of health who was supposed to be at that meeting had to attend the federal executive council meeting. They are trying to fix another meeting but the Lagos people refused saying they want to go on strike”, the source said.
