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Loading ...Worried by the number of casualties that have resulted from the incessant strike actions embarked upon by the workers of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, the Imo State chapter of the Supreme Council of Niger Delta Youths, yesterday gave the workers a seven-day ultimatum to resume work or resign their position from the centre.
The youths who stormed the FMC premises and accosted the protesting health workers, lamented that since the workers embarked on the incessant strike action from January this year, the state had lost more than 75 patients from the hospital as a result of the frequent closure of the hospital by the FMC workers.
The unions ranging from the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria had resumed their suspended Strike action just days after a probe panel of the federal government had given the medical director a clean bill of health on the allegations leveled against her by the workers.
However, addressing the striking workers, the chairman of the Supreme Council of Niger Delta Youths in Imo State, Hon. Thaddeus Nwachukwu stated that as stakeholders and Imo youths, “the council has observed with concern, the incessant strike actions going on at FMC, Owerri since the beginning of the year 2015 resulting to the closure of the hospital and disruption of service to Imo people. The preliminary investigations carried out by members of this council showed that the incessant strike action at FMC, Owerri is taking serious negative tolls on residents of Imo state.
“We however believe that as concerned Imo youths, that it is now imperative to inform you and those behind the sustained strike under the umbrella of health workers union at FMC Owerri that before their employment, that government first considered the health security of ordinary Imo men and women to establish and equip the hospital.
“We want to make it clear that the public interest is paramount when weighed in scale to that of few number of healthcare providers employed at the hospital and being guided by this understanding, the council overwhelmingly voted in support of the decision to visit FMC, Owerri to make our position public”, Nwachukwu stated.
He regretted that due to regular strike actions at FMC, Owerri, “our people have been denied services and a lot of avoidable deaths and other unpleasant consequences recorded across communities in the state”.
On behalf of the members of the group, Nwachukwu gave the striking workers and those behind the regular closure of the hospital under the umbrella of medical workers union seven days from December 8, 2015 to resume full services to Imo people or resign from the employment with the hospital.
He warned that after 7 days, “we do not want to see anybody wearing black attire to FMC, Owerri in the name of protest”, saying that the council’s position was informed by the understanding that though FMC, Owerri provided a platform for the health workers to be employed, the hospital primarily was established to save the lives of Imo people and therefore remains collective heritage of Imo people which “we must all strive to protect as informed stakeholders”.
He added “if the information that the federal ministry of health had investigated the cause of problem and thereafter communicated its findings to parties in the dispute, that government’s directive must be respected in the interest of Imo people since further closure of the hospital would be viewed by the council as conspiracy against Imo people’s interest.
“We feel compelled to take this position because of the consequences of the deadly treatment to Imo people which have resulted to the death of more than 75 of our people whose treatments were disrupted due to strike at FMC, Owerri.
“Also worrisome to the council was the rebuffing and disrespect to His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on the appeal on those behind this action to consider the interest of our people and sheathe their sword.
“Imo is a highly literate society and as such the council as an integral part of the state cannot close its eyes to allow people with hidden agenda treat people of the state as illiterates who do not know where their rights begins and ends.
“Regrettably, we learnt that those championing the strike under the umbrella of health workers at FMC, Owerri are largely non-indigenes of the state. We are however not saying that non Imo people should not work at a federal institution like FMC, Owerri, but we cannot continue to fold our hands to see our people dying in their numbers due to politically sponsored strike while other states continue to enjoy the facility graciously provided by the federal government in their states”.
Nwachukwu stated that as a non-violent group, the Supreme Council of Niger Delta Youths, Imo State is calling on Dr Angela Uwakwem, the CMD of FMC, Owerri to in the interim resume duties at FMC, annex, Izombe in Oguta LGA where the council will provide her with adequate security so as to give room for faster resolution of the pending issues with a view to having lasting peace”.
