Workers at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have issued a 72-hour strike notice to the Federal Government, citing poor staff welfare and what they describe as anti-worker activities.
The workers, under the aegis of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), announced their plan to commence an indefinite strike beginning October 7, 2024, if their demands are not met.
Comrade Salih Ahmed Aledeh, the General Secretary of the union’s NAFDAC branch, stated that the decision came after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum previously issued to the agency’s management.
According to Aledeh, the union had raised multiple concerns affecting staff welfare during a congress meeting on September 20, 2024, but NAFDAC management failed to take any action within the given timeframe.
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“In a significant development affecting Nigeria’s public health sector, workers at NAFDAC will commence an indefinite strike starting October 7, 2024. The strike action follows the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to NAFDAC management, which failed to address concerns raised by the agency’s branch of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria,” Aledeh said in a statement.
The strike, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on October 7, will see all NAFDAC staff nationwide down tools, which could disrupt the agency’s regulatory functions, including food and drug oversight. The union has also directed zonal coordinators and state representatives to mobilize their members to ensure full compliance with the strike notice.
Aledeh urged all members to remain united and resolute, emphasizing, “The success of this action is dependent on our collective determination and resolve.”
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The union’s leadership plans to provide continuous updates on the strike’s progress from each zone. If the strike proceeds as planned, it could have a severe impact on public health regulation and the availability of essential medical supplies across the country.
The duration of the strike remains uncertain, pending a response and resolution from NAFDAC’s management and the Federal Government.