Ekiti health workers threaten strike over 72-month arrears

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

ADO-EKITI — Health workers under the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Ekiti State chapter, have threatened a three-day protest over alleged outstanding salary arrears and other financial obligations at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.

The union appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to intervene in the matter, saying several payments and deductions allegedly owed workers remained unresolved despite repeated engagements with the hospital management.

The Chairman of MHWUN at EKSUTH, Comrade Kumuyi Oluwatimilehin, alleged that workers had been receiving half salaries for the past 72 months.

She listed the outstanding issues to include salary arrears, COVID-19 allowances, special levies, cooperative deductions and union dues.

Oluwatimilehin said the union had refrained from embarking on industrial action because of its support for the governor, but warned that the situation could lead to a three-day protest and possibly an indefinite strike if the grievances were not addressed.

She said: “The Governor tried to increase our subvention three times within the space of two years. Kudos to him, but as we speak right now, what is breaking our hearts is that we have 72 months unpaid arrears.

“Part of our deductions, our cooperative deductions that were supposed to be remitted to our different cooperatives were not remitted. Our special levies were not remitted to the appropriate quarters. Our union deductions are nowhere to be found.

“Our tax was deducted, but as it is today, we cannot even collect tax clearance because we will be sent back.

“So this very morning, we are demanding our 72 months’ arrears. COVID-19 arrears are also there. Because we love our governor, we have refused to go on strike.

“As I speak, members of Medical and Health Workers Union cannot access car loans or housing loans. We cannot access any loan and we don’t benefit from anything from the government.”

Oluwatimilehin also alleged that deductions meant for workers’ cooperative societies had not been remitted, saying the situation had affected the ability of some members to meet their financial obligations.

She appealed to the governor to intervene and resolve the issues.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) in Ekiti State and state chairman of MHWUN, Comrade Femi Ajoloko, questioned the management of the hospital’s finances and handling of workers’ welfare.

Ajoloko alleged that the hospital management had requested about N90 million in additional subvention but received more than N120 million, asking why the difference could not be used, at least in part, to address workers’ outstanding entitlements.

He said: “It is quite unfortunate that the Chief Medical Director of this hospital is not being sincere. He’s not being fair with our people.

“If somebody is requesting for N90 million additional subvention and he’s given over N120 million, the excess you have is to defray the outstanding arrears of the workers.”

The union leaders maintained that their grievances were not intended to disrupt healthcare delivery, but to secure payment of what they described as legitimate entitlements and improved working conditions.

However, reacting to the allegations, the Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Prof. Kayode Olabanji, denied that the hospital was indebted to its workers.

Olabanji said the controversy was largely linked to the implementation of the new tax law and adjustments to workers’ salaries.

He explained that the hospital had implemented the new salary structure in line with a government-approved circular, which he said was vetted by the unions.

“We have implemented that salary according to the circular given to us, vetted by the unions. So, we have implemented the new salary. We have paid the arrears, one month, according to what we were given,” he said.

The CMD added that the hospital had also paid an additional award to doctors undergoing training.

“For the doctors, there is another award for those who are in training. For those who are in training, we have also paid that. Everything the government gave to us, we have disposed of to the workers,” he said.

On deductions, Olabanji said some had been settled, adding that the hospital had been complying with directives from the state Board of Internal Revenue on the implementation of the new tax law.

“The Board of Internal Revenue wrote to us in January that we must implement the new tax law. We had to go to the Internal Revenue. We went to hold meetings with the representatives of these unions; we were there,” he said.

“There have been some deductions. But then they have been settled. They have been paid. As we are saying, if our allocation is not enough to pay this man’s salary, where are we going to have some huge money to clear arrears at once?”

Olabanji said the new tax regime was the immediate source of the disagreement, insisting that the hospital was acting in accordance with government directives.

He added that the Board of Internal Revenue had warned employers against deducting incorrect tax amounts.

“So, we are agents of government, and we have to follow what the tax law says. That is all,” the CMD said.