The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives in the state had last week begun an indefinite strike over what they described as government’s deliberate refusal to implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and arbitrary cuts in their salaries.
Reiterating the government’s stand, the Commissioner for Information Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin Magaji said the termination of the appointments was due to their outright contravention of Section 030413 of the civil service rules which stipulates that any officer who absents him or herself from work without permission or approval from a competent authority for dismissal and following the violation of the terms of their appointments the governor approved the termination of their appointments with immediate effect.
‘’And let me make it clear hear that this dismissal does not affect those on annual, maternity or study leave provided they did that with permission or approval of the competent and appropriate authorities”, he added.
Birnin Magaji who also foreclosed any possibility of re- negotiation, further explained that the striking workers issued an ultimatum to the government that they would go on strike on December 5, 2013 if the government failed to accede to their demands and the governor approved the implementation of the CONHESS on December 1 with immediate effect, even before the expiration of their ultimatum, but they decided to embark on the strike despite the approval.
