Nigerian Health Workers Threaten Strike Over Retirement Age Dispute

By Dave Uka 


The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria has threatened to embark on strike action due to the alleged failure of the Federal Ministry of Health to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the upward review of retirement age for medical and health workers. 

The union's National President, Kabiru Minjibir, disclosed this while addressing members during the 47th regular meeting of the Tertiary Health Institutions National Consultative Forum,
THINCF, held at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

The union had signed an MOU with the federal government to increase the retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 70 to 75 years for consultants. However, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has resisted the implementation, arguing that the increase should only apply to clinical staff.

Minjibir emphasized that healthcare delivery is a teamwork effort, and non-clinical staff also contribute significantly to the development and progress of health in the country.

The NMA has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government to truncate the MOU, which the union has warned will not be taken lightly.

The union has warned that altering any part of the MOU will lead to industrial action. Minjibir stated, "We have been patient, we have been asking our people to remain calm, and this time around, we will not hesitate to down tool as a result of that." 

The Chief Medical Director of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Robinson Onoh, applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring prompt payment of salaries to medical health workers and provision of other incentives.

 The Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Moses Ekuma, also emphasized the state government's commitment to addressing challenges in the health sector