By John Ogunsemore
The Ondo State Government has urged the National Association of Nurses and Midwives, Ondo State branch, to shelve its planned industrial action starting from Friday, January 31.
This is contained in a Thursday statement signed by Head of Service, Bayo Philip.
The state government said there is no basis for the planned strike.
“The attention of the state government has been drawn to a planned industrial action to be embarked upon by the National Association of Nurses and Midwives, Ondo State branch, effective from Friday, 31st January, 2025.
“To say the least, government is surprised to learn about the planned action in the news, more so that there is no disputation or any unresolved issue regarding the CONHESS Salary Template, to warrant the planned action,” the statement reads in part.
The state government recalled that, like other health workers and the generality of the public servants in the state, the nurses recently enjoyed a pay rise arising from the implementation of the N73,O00 Minimum Wage approved in November, 2024 by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The state government noted that health workers, aside medical doctors, met with the government side mid January to press for a full implementation of CONHESS Salary Table and it was jointly agreed that the matter be placed before the governor for consideration.
“Mr Governor in
his characteristic love for the health sector, directed that the financial implication be worked out for his consideration.
“And that is presently being concluded and should not be an excuse to delay the payment of January 2025 salary.
“Government is therefore calling on the nurses to shelve their planned industrial action as there is no basis for such, at all.
“Like other health workers, nurses are aware of the attention and action of government and they should allow good reasoning to prevail since there is neither any disputation nor deadlock.
“Nurses in the State General/Specialist hospitals should cancel the planned action as government will not tolerate any unwarranted disruption to its healthcare services.”
