SSS, policemen, floods FMC Asaba
- Details
- Category: Latest
- Published on Wednesday, 27 June 2012 10:36
- Written by Palmer Ogheneyole Nathaniel
A combined team of men of the State Security Service (SSS) and armed to the teeth Policemen yesterday flooded the premises of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, barricading the entrance and preventing people from going in and out of the hospital. This move is geared towards preventing the striking workers of the
establishment from entering the hospital, Elombah.com had gathered.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has on June 5th, embarked on an indefinite strike upon the expiration of an ultimatum given to the Hospital's management by the union on several issues affection her members.
The demands as revealled by union's excos includes: payment of promotion arrears for 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the payment of arrears of minimum wage between August and December last year.
The union is also demanding the immediate release of promotion examination results conducted in 2011 as well as the conduct of the 2012 promotion ex-amination for the workers.
However, the Medical Director of the institution, Dr. Leo Erhunmwunsee, had described the strike as unjustified, explaining that what the unions were asking for was outside what the Federal Government approved.
The body has since proceeded on an indefinite strike which has continually grounded activities in the hospital while patients groans in pains.
“Since the commencement of the strike, there has been total blackout and patients who were caught unawares suffered before they were evacuated by their loved ones. Children who were in incubator were asked to go home,” the JAC leaders said.
In another development, members of JAC has concluded a three-day fasting and prayer with almost all members in attendance.
The spiritual programme which was held outside the hospital compound witnessed several prayers offered for God's intervention in the lingering face-off between the management and the staff.
According to JAC's Chairman, Comrade Anthony Asiodu, the workers resorted to prayer as the last option to make the management hearken to their demand since dialogue had failed.
Asiodu added that the Congress resolved to end the three-day fasting which began on Saturday with prayers in front of the hospital's gate.
“It seems that all our dialogue has failed and we were convinced that prayer would be the only weapon to make the management listen to us.
“Patients are dying that is why we have decided to come out and cry out because the people we serve cannot even get the services", he said.
