Although the Edo State government has dismissed the ongoing warning strike by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) as misguided, the union members remain resolute in continuing their industrial action, which commenced at midnight on Friday.
In a statement released last week by the union’s State Chairman, Comrade Osagie Ogbeide, and Secretary, Barivure Kpakol, it was emphasized that the 14-day ultimatum issued to the state government expired last Thursday without any meaningful response. Consequently, the union instructed all its members to immediately halt their services across all State and Local Government health facilities until the government shows genuine commitment by addressing their outstanding demands.
Contrarily, Governor Monday Okpebholo has condemned the strike, accusing certain union leaders of manipulating the situation for personal gain. According to a statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the government has been actively engaged in discussions regarding the union’s concerns and views the strike as poorly timed, unpatriotic, and unjustifiable, especially given that negotiations are still underway.
The statement further revealed that a follow-up meeting to continue talks with the union was scheduled for Monday. It also noted that many of the issues raised by the union stem from unresolved matters inherited from the previous administration under Governor Godwin Obaseki.
For instance, one of the union’s demands involves the refurbishment of the Doctors’ Quarters, a project that the current government has already prioritized alongside other welfare initiatives.
“It is therefore both surprising and disheartening that the union’s leadership would rush to declare a strike, accusing the government of insensitivity, when the present administration has consistently shown openness, goodwill, and a proactive approach to enhancing the healthcare sector,” the statement added.
The government criticized the union’s abrupt strike decision as undermining ongoing negotiations and reflecting a lack of sincerity and respect for the dialogue process.
Furthermore, the Edo State Government dismissed the strike as baseless, suggesting it is motivated by hidden agendas and excessive financial demands known only to a select few within the union’s leadership, to the detriment of the broader membership.
“This ill-advised industrial action was triggered by the refusal of the State Government to accede to unlawful financial requests from a handful of greedy union officials,” the statement asserted.
Governor Okpebholo also highlighted the severe consequences of the strike, emphasizing that it endangers the lives of vulnerable Edo residents, particularly those requiring urgent medical care. He condemned the action as a betrayal of the Hippocratic Oath, which prioritizes the sanctity of human life above all else.
