Federal Medical Centre Owerri calls off 12-week industrial action

workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, on Wednesday suspended their 12–week-old industrial action.

Announcing the suspension, leader of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Obinna Ogbonna, said the FMC Medical Director, Dr. Angela Uwakwem, has proceeded on annual leave to enable the Federal Government panel investigate all the allegations against her, over which the strike began on May 15.

The suspension, he said, followed an agreement between the health workers of various unions and the Federal Government.

Ogbonna said they were satisfied with the adherence to their demand that she proceeds on annual leave until investigations are concluded on her alleged financial malfeasance, insensitivity and unauthorised spending.

He added that an official would work on acting capacity during the period and urged the workers to support the yet-to-be-announced official.Okorocha threatens workers

However, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has threatened to sack all civil servants in the state if they fail to call off their ongoing five-day warning strike.

Addressing members of pro-government youth group called Imo Youth Council, who staged a solidarity protest on Wednesday at the Government House, Owerri, Okorocha accused the workers of breaching their agreement with government on June 6 and threatened to sack them and employ the youths if they ignore the directive.

Accusing the workers of politically motivated action, he told the youths, “Get ready and sow your black suits, white shirts and red tie. Let us give them one more week.”

However, Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Augusta Ogini, has dismissed the threat, saying has not reached the unions officially. The workers are demanding their salary arrears ranging from two to over seven months, and pensions ranging from seven to 18 months. Govt to investigate electoral violence

Meanwhile, Okorocha said the Federal government would investigate the electoral violence over the April polls. He told journalists on Wednesday that his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) supported were brutalised during the polls.

On the recent appointments of service and other security chiefs, he said it was tactically and strategically done, adding: “The service chiefs come from the North East. The idea of all these is, let the locals handle locals.”