The crisis threatening National Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) took a twist yesterday as workers declared a two-week warning strike.
The placard-carrying workers, who stormed the agency’s headquarters on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, disrupted activities.
Some placards read: “President Buhari, give us Director General in NAFDAC” and “Impunity in NAFDAC must stop”.
Chairman of the Federal Area Council of the Federal Ministry of Health Workers Union, Lagos, Comrade Attah Ibrahim, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.
“NAFDAC is bleeding and bleeding seriously. And if nothing is done to address the suffering of workers, the consequences will be disastrous for the country,” Ibrahim said.
He listed workers’ plight as discrepancy in payment with workers of Federal Ministry of Health, non-promotion of workers since 2012, in addition to the absence of a NAFDAC board, and appointment of a substantive director general to replace Mrs. Yetunde Oni, who is acting.
“We expect these complaints to be addressed within two weeks of this warning strike, failing which we will embark on indefinite strike,” Ibrahim added.
Chairman, Lagos NAFDAC Workers Union Comrade Peter Anzaku said the role of NAFDAC in sanitising the nation’s health made it expedient on the Federal Government to intervene.
“We have written several memos in vain to government since 2012 because of our quest for industrial harmony, hence this unavoidable strike,” Anzaku said.