GROUP TASKS FAYEMI OVER HEALTH WORKERS STRIKE

A Non Governmental Organisation in Ekiti State, the Ekiti Justice Group (EJG) has tasked the State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi over the ongoing strike action embarked upon by Medical and Health workers in the State, saying; “issues bordering on lives of Ekiti people should not be treated with levity by any government.”

EJG said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Tunji Oluwasanmi that it was painful that the strike action, which was avoidable has denied children in the State the benefit of the ongoing Immunisation exercise.

“From information available to us, the strike action was occasioned by Fayemi's approval of 60 percent increment in the Health workers salary as against the 100 approved by the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Oni.

“No doubt, this is not only inhuman and deceitful but an act that should be condemned by all.

“It is on record that implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Medical and Health workers was already approved by Oni and it was to begin on October 1.

“When Fayemi was approached for revalidation of the approval already given by Oni, he (Fayemi) revalidated the approval for University Teaching Hospital (UTH) alone, leaving out those in State Hospitals, General Hospitals, Comprehensive Health Centres, Blue Hospital and other health institutions in the State.

“Fayemi later approved 60 percent instead of 100 percent approved for them by the Oni-led government thereby bringing health workers in Ekiti State to at par with their counterparts in neighbouring Ondo State, whom they were far ahead of in terms of emoluments even before the commencement of the implementation of the CONMESS and CONHESS.

“For this reason, Health workers in Ekiti State have been on strike since last Thursday, denying Ekiti people the benefit of health care delivery, and we have gathered that casualties are already being recorded.

“It is on this note that we wish to implore Governor Fayemi to pay more attention to the plight of the people occasioned by this avoidable strike action instead of using thugs to unleash terror on perceived political opponents,” Oluwasanmi said.