Lagos – The Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIA), on Monday urged all health workers to work as a team to restore the glory of the profession.
Mr Boye Shaba, Chairman of SSAUTHRIA, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) chapter, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during the association’s General Meeting in Lagos.
“All health workers should see themselves as one indivisible unit for the progress of the sector.
“Recently, in a meeting of JOHESU and other stakeholders in the health sector with the Minister of Health, Prof. lsaac Adewole, the minister had also reiterated the need for unity and efficiency.
“This is one way to ensure that the lapses and gaps being experienced in the sector are reduced.’’
Shaba, also the State Publicity Secretary, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Lagos Council, urged the Buhari-led administration to be firm and transparent in the rule of law and dispensation of justice.
“We should not celebrate looters and corrupt personalities, but rather, people with integrity and honour.
“I believe that change can take place; it may, however, be a long term, but gradually, it will.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Shaba said that the general meeting would address some issues affecting members of the chapter.
“This meeting will be to intimate our members on recent happenings and major challenges affecting us.
“Such will include the non-payment of November salaries, release of promotion list, teaching allowances, the state of working equipment in the facility, amongst others.
“However, government said that salaries would be paid on or before the Christmas and management has also assured that the 2015 promotion result will be released before the end of the year.
“The management of our institution has also said that teaching allowances which were stopped for some months now will be reinstated.
“They said that the stoppage was a mistake and the arrears will also be paid after rectifying the mistakes,’’ Shaba said.
Mr Joseph Balogun, a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the institution, said he would expect agreements that would advance the welfare of members from the meeting.
According to him, the delay of November salary, release of promotion list, disparities in entry point levels, removal of teaching allowances, poor working conditions and absence of incentives to workers are worrisome.
Balogun urged the government and management of the institution to address the challenges to enable workers work optimally. (NAN)