Rivers health workers resume work after one-year strike

By Ann Godwin

Health workers in Rivers State on Tuesday agreed to resumed work after one year of industrial action due to unpaid salaries and other entitlements by the state government.

The strike action impacted negatively on the state as most people, who could not afford to pay bills in private hospitals were abandoned to their fate.

The industrial action which has led to the death of several persons started when former Governor Chibuike Amaechi was in office but he failed to take serious steps in addressing the challenges of the workers, which include inability to refurbishment some obsolete office equipment, shortage of drugs among others.

Governor Nyesom Wike, a month after he assumed office, however, mandated his deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Banigo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Management Board to liaise with the striking health workers on the resolution of the logjam.

After a series of meetings with the State government, an agreement was reached and the health workers, who were satisfied with the intervention of the government, decided to return to work.