Protesting NAFDAC workers vow indefinite strike over appointment of new DG

Workers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have vowed to go on an indefinite strike unless the government reviews their salaries and appoints a substantive director general for the agency.

The workers ended a two-week warning strike on Wednesday but said they were prepared to shut down the agency again until their grievances are addressed.

The workers held a brief protest on Thursday morning at the headquarters of the Agency in Wuse, Abuja.

Led by the vice chairman of the agency’s branch of Medical and Health Workers Union, Idzi Isua, the protesters chanted and waved placards in front of the complex.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Isua said the workers had resolved to begin an indefinite strike soon if the authorities of the agency did not accede to their request.

“It is either they answer us or we go on an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” he said.

Mr. Idzi said the workers were aggrieved over the process of promotion of staff in the agency and other issues.

“We gave a warning strike of two weeks and resumed yesterday (Wednesday), still nothing has been done about the issues. We are giving them a few days to respond.

“We are also calling on the government to appoint a substantive Director General for the Commission and revisit the recent recruitment of staff into the agency. Due process was not followed in the recruitment,” he said.

The spokesperson of the agency, Abubakar Jimoh, did not pick several calls to his phone or respond to a text message for the reaction of the Management of the agency to the issues raised by the workers.

A source who asked not to be named because he was not cleared to speak, however said the management had decided on a policy of “No work no pay” over the threat of workers strike.