Incessant strikes by professionals in the health sector are giving the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu sleepless nights.
A visibly angry Minister who said he is now in possession of three notices of strike has therefore called the bluff of the unions, saying they could go ahead with the planned strike.
He however, warned of the consequences of their action, reminding them that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities have been at home for about five months, falling short of saying that federal health institutions would be closed down.
The Minister lamented, “If you see the kind of letter I receive from people who should be respected health professionals, you will weep for this country.
“The health sector is losing its respect. I repeat the health sector has lost its respect; it is not only losing. Right now, I have on my table three threats to proceed on strike.
“One threat is to proceed on the 28 (November). Another one is to start on the 13 (December). For me, they can go ahead. If you are talking, people should stop sending these threats to me for goodness sake. “Look at ASUU; we’ve not had any school for how many months? Four months. If that is what Nigeria needs, revolution, for me, I like it. Let’s close everything; let’s close everything. Maybe that is what Nigeria needs; we need a revolution. For me, I like it.
“Let’s close everything; let’s start afresh. It may be better for this country. If all these people go to the private sector they run back because they won’t get half of what government is paying.”
The Minister recalled that the private sector used to pay more that government, lamenting that the situation has changed now.
‘It is only in Nigeria that we have the abnormality where government is paying better than the private sector. It shouldn’t be so. Private sector ought to pay better.
“When I graduated as a doctor, the private sector was paying two to four times what we earned in government. But, it has changed.”
“Something is wrong somewhere. I don’t know; but something is wrong. We need to tell ourselves the truth. So, for me, I think need we need to go back to the drawing board, all of us,” he said.
