NAFDAC Workers Vow to Continue Strike Until Demands are Met

The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), representing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has announced its intention to continue an indefinite strike until their demands are addressed.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Kaduna, chapter Chairman Adetoboye Ayodeji stated that it is now up to NAFDAC's management to initiate negotiations to demonstrate their commitment to resolving the issues at hand.

The strike, which began on October 7, was prompted by demands for a review of the 2024 promotion examinations.

Workers allege that many qualified staff were not promoted due to a purported "vacancy slot" dictated by the Head of Service.

Ayodeji also highlighted concerns regarding unpaid statutory arrears and benefits for employees hired in 2022. He pointed out that an agreement signed with the government and NAFDAC management in 2022 regarding workers' conditions of service has yet to be fulfilled.

“The issues in the agreement were supposed to be settled by December 2022, but none have been complied with to date,” he lamented. “Allowances due for approval since December 2022 remain unpaid, and the conditions of service have not been finalized.”

The union has reportedly sent multiple letters to NAFDAC management regarding these concerns but has received insufficient responses. Ayodeji claimed that during the recent promotion examinations, only 36 percent of over 700 participants were promoted, raising questions about the fairness of the process.

He criticized management for claiming a lack of vacancies while simultaneously recruiting new staff into positions. “Why were only 220 staff promoted when over 700 took the exams? This is unacceptable,” he said, emphasizing that such low promotion rates could severely impact staff morale and, ultimately, public health.