The Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has called on its members to unite with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in support of the proposed countrywide industrial action commencing on October 3, 2023.
Call for Solidarity
In a letter dated September 28, 2023, NUAHP urged healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, imaging scientists/radiographers, medical social workers, optometrists, clinical psychologists, orthotics/prosthetics, speech therapists, medical physicists, ECG/EEG specialists, dental technologists, occupational therapists, health information management practitioners, dental therapists, dieticians and other related health professionals, to actively participate in the indefinite strike action.
The directive, signed by the General Secretary, Comrade Martin A. Egbanubi, was addressed to members of the National Executive Council (NEC), National Administrative Council (NAC), zonal coordinators, chairpersons and secretaries of unit branches, as well as presidents and general secretaries of professional associations.
Reasons for the Strike
“I have the directive of the President, Comrade (Pharm.) Kamal Alhassan Ibrahim, to inform you that the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), during an emergency National Executive Council virtual meeting held on Tuesday, 26th September, 2023, passed a resolution to join the Nigeria Labour Congress in declaring an indefinite strike action, effective from 00:00 hours on Tuesday, 3rd October, 2023,” the letter stated.
The letter further explained that the joint press conference held by the leadership of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, on the same day, made public the two organizations’ resolutions regarding the indefinite strike action.
“Therefore, the strike action is inevitable if the Federal Government fails to announce palliatives and other policy actions to alleviate the economic hardship imposed on workers and the masses due to the removal of fuel subsidy, by midnight on Monday, 2nd October, 2023,” the letter concluded.
