Two weeks into the industrial action embarked on by the staff of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, has appealed to the striking staff unions to return to work in the interest of the nation.
The industrial action, which began on October 7, 2024, has entered its second week, disrupting critical regulatory functions and posing potential risks to public health and safety.
Despite several meetings between the management and union leadership, the issues that led to the strike remain unresolved.
Making the appeal in a press statement entitled: “Ongoing Strike Action In NAFDAC by The Medical & Health Workers Union Of Nigeria, (MHWUN): Need To Return To Work”, Adeyeye highlighted the significant public health responsibilities of NAFDAC and the negative impact the strike is having on the agency’s reputation and revenue.
She also expressed concern about the potential impact on staff allowances.
Adeyeye outlined the key issues raised by the unions and the efforts the management has made to address them, including; the promotion of staff which she said the management has written to the Head of Service for the expansion of vacancies to facilitate the promotion of all candidates who scored 60 marks and above in the NAFDAC 2024 promotion exercise.
Also, on the implementation of the 2022 agreement, she explained that the SGF has written to the Minister of Finance to approve hazard, productivity, and regulatory allowances for NAFDAC staff using user fees.
On the issue of training school, the NAFDAC DG said the management is committed to revisiting the on-site training school in Kaduna as well as assured the staff that all outstanding payment of benefits such as claims for repatriation, burial expenses, and life insurance benefits will be paid.
Other demands include casualising drivers. She said the management is working to absorb all casual drivers as recruitment approvals are received.
On other demands, the statement reads in part: “When the DG came on board in 2016, there were only 13 Directorates and 13 Directors in NAFDAC. Today, we have over 28 Directors in the system due to the DG’s expansion drive. Lately, four new Directorates were created for NAFDAC. This was due to the DG’s initiatives without prompting from any quarters. We shall continue to expand the structure to align with our objectives, but it is a work in progress.
“The issue of review of job-specific allowance is within the purview of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission. We agree with the Union that the review is long overdue, but the management is not resting on its oars to address the matter.
“We are very mindful of the good job and commitment demonstrated by laboratory staff which was indeed the reason the allowances were initiated in the first place. However, starting from January 2024 50 per cent of the Agency’s IGR was deducted from the source by the government and this has impacted our finances. However, the management is open to an upward review of the Laboratory Allowances and will ensure that the payment is at a flat rate across the board.
“There is indeed a policy that guides transfer in the Agency whereby officers who have spent long periods in a particular location are deployed. Since last year, staff deployment has gone on in the Agency and it is continuing. For example, transfers have been carried out in the South-West Zone, South-East, North Central, and North-East Zones.
“The laboratory is a specialized area and transfers of officers in the laboratory must be done methodically and measured so as not to disrupt the system. You can see from the foregoing that the Management did not downplay the grouse of the Union but took positive steps towards addressing them. And I can assure you that I will not rest until the issues are properly tackled.”
Adeyeye urged the striking staff to return to work and prioritise the interests of the nation, emphasizing the importance of their dedication and hard work in ensuring the safety of Nigerians.
“It has become necessary to appeal to you to return to work and get NAFDAC moving again. I appreciate your dedication, diligence, and hard work. That is the hallmark of what NAFDAC staff are known for and we cannot afford to prove otherwise at this critical juncture. It is my sincere hope that you will hearken to this appeal in the interest of our nation.”
