By Joan Nwagwu
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s stoppage of salaries of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) members over the “No Work, No Pay” policy.
TUC President, Mr Festus Osifo, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Osifo described the action as provocative and a violation of industrial relations principles.
According to him, the circular by the Federal Ministry of Health ordering salary stoppage through Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System(IPPIS) was reckless and amounted to intimidation of health workers.
“This circular is not policy but intimidation, and Congress will not accept negotiating with workers while punishment is simultaneously unleashed on them.
“The stoppage of salaries of health workers who save lives daily is wicked, insensitive and unpatriotic, especially amid worsening economic hardship,” he added.
Osifo added that the policy undermined ongoing negotiations between government and organised labour, warning that dialogue could not coexist with punitive measures.
According to him, health workers have continued to sustain the healthcare system despite poor conditions and should not be punished for systemic failures.
Osifo also described the stoppage of JOHESU salaries as insensitive, unpatriotic and capable of worsening hardship amid rising inflation and fuel prices.
He said the use of IPPIS to withhold workers’ pay was an abuse of state machinery and would be resisted by organised labour.
The TUC president said Nigerian workers had historically resisted threats and hunger, adding that intimidation would not aid workers’ submission.
He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular and restoration of all affected salaries without conditions.
Osifo also called on the Ministry of Health to return to negotiations within seven days to avert industrial unrest.
He said that failure to comply would compel Congress to mobilise workers nationwide for decisive collective action.
Osifo said responsibility for any disruption of services would rest on the ministry for choosing confrontation over dialogue.
He added that all TUC affiliates, state councils and the FCT council had been placed on red alert.(NAN)