The strike action by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) within the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has entered its second week. It has disrupted critical regulatory functions and raised concerns about public health risks.
The industrial action, which began on October 7, 2024, stems from grievances raised by the union despite ongoing negotiations with the agency’s management.
In her reaction, NAFDAC’s director-general, Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, in a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, averred that the management had engaged the union leadership in a series of meetings both before and during the strike.
However, despite these efforts, no resolution has been reached, Adeyeye lamented, while revealing that the agency held meetings on October 5, 11, 18, and 19, but MHWUN remains steadfast in continuing the industrial action.
The director-general expressed concerns about the potential health and security risks the prolonged strike poses, given NAFDAC’s crucial role in regulating food and drug safety in Nigeria. She noted that the disruption of regulatory functions has far-reaching implications, including damage to the agency’s reputation, loss of revenue, and a potential inability to meet financial obligations such as productivity and other allowances due in 2024 and 2025.
The director general outlined several key issues raised by the union, including the expansion of vacancies, full compliance with a 2022 agreement, and matters related to allowances and benefits. She stated that the agency has taken steps to address these concerns, such as writing to the head of service to expand vacancies and advocating for the approval of allowances through user fees.
Additionally, the union has called for reopening a training school in Kaduna, which was halted due to security concerns. However, the agency has since launched an online training school. Other issues include the alleged casualisation of drivers, payment of disengagement allowances, and a review of job-specific and laboratory allowances.
While the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has suspended its strike action, MHWUN has yet to do so, which will further strain NAFDAC’s operations.
In her appeal, Adeyeye called on the union to return to work, highlighting the steps the management has taken to address the grievances and emphasising NAFDAC’s critical role in safeguarding public health. “We must put the interest of Nigeria above all else,” she stated, urging the union to hearken to the appeal in the nation’s interest.
