The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), NAFDAC Branch, has vowed to press on with its ongoing strike until its grievances are addressed.
In a statement to newsmen on Saturday, Adetoboye Ayodeji, Chairman of the Kaduna chapter, emphasized that the union would only return to work once the agency’s management demonstrates concrete steps to meet their demands. He urged NAFDAC to engage in negotiations to resolve the issues.
The indefinite strike, which began on Oct. 7, was sparked by demands for a review of the 2024 promotion exams. Ayodeji highlighted that many staff who passed the exams were not promoted due to a claimed “vacancy slot” limitation, despite being fully qualified.
Additionally, Ayodeji cited unpaid arrears and other benefits owed to employees hired since 2022, as well as unresolved matters concerning a 2022 agreement with NAFDAC on workers’ conditions of service.
“None of the agreements, which were supposed to be finalized by December 2022, have been implemented,” Ayodeji lamented.
The union leader also criticized NAFDAC for promoting only 36 percent of the 700 staff who took the exams, while recruiting outsiders for positions the agency claimed had no vacancies. This, he said, has led to low morale among staff, which could ultimately affect the health services provided to 200 million Nigerians.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, denied the allegations in a statement, asserting that the agency had adhered to payment regulations and remained committed to employee welfare.
