The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has called for an urgent resolution of the ongoing health workers’ strike, warning that its continuation poses serious risks to Nigerians’ lives.
This is contained in a statement signed by the forum’s National Coordinator, Mr Andrew Emelieze, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Emelieze expressed solidarity with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) over unresolved welfare and professional issues affecting health workers.
He said the forum supported the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the Federal Government.
He noted that many Nigerians had been denied access to essential healthcare services due to the prolonged strike, describing health workers as critical to national wellbeing.
He added that neglect of health workers welfare undermined the entire healthcare system.
He commended the intervention of the NLC and TUC, describing their action as timely and necessary, while urging the Federal Ministry of Health to immediately reopen negotiations with the striking union.
Emelieze warned that failure to resolve the dispute could trigger wider industrial action across federal workplaces.
He called on the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to support efforts aimed at ending the strike, noting that functional hospitals and motivated health workers were non-negotiable for national development.
He also appealed to the federal government to act decisively to avert further loss of lives and restore normal health services. (NAN)