FG Condemns Ministry Workers’ Protest

The Federal Government has described as illegitimate and uncalled for, the recent demonstration by workers of the Federal Ministry of Health in their demand for enhanced welfare package.

The workers who called for the removal of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Linus Awute during their demonstration at Abuja demanded for the payment of N200,000 as welfare package for those on salary grade level 03-06 while those on salary grade level 07-10 should be paid N250,000, workers on 12-14; N350,000 and 15-17; N500,000 each for a workforce of about 4,000.

Speaking to Correspondents at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on the issue, the Permanent Secretary said the workers’ demand was outrageous and that the  Ministry’s appropriation for this year did not provide for such amount to be paid to workers when the establishment has a lot of health care service delivery to attend to.

Mr. Awute who quoted the Minister of Health as saying that the workers’ demand and demonstration were illegitimate as they were directly or indirectly clamouring for the sharing of money to them, noted that the payment of such money was impossible.

The Minister’s words, according to Mr. Awute; “Your demand and demonstration is illegitimate and uncalled for because for that kind of money to be paid to you is not possible as the Ministry’s money is tied to one form of health care service delivery or another”.

The permanent secretary explained that the business of government has shifted from recklessness to seriousness, pointing out that hazard allowance was not the right of every staff and advised the workers to understand that their demand and demonstration are illegitimate.

“People should understand that the system has changed. The vision 2020 is how to chart a course for the economic prosperity of the nation, which can only be possible when we are able to change our mindset. Until we shift from thinking that monies appropriated to the Ministry is for sharing before the end of the year or that any remainder should be shared to the staff, I am not part of it”, he stressed.

According to Awute; “My function as permanent secretary is to interpret government policies properly and use it to drive the system, which I have been doing to my best. What concerns me is not what the labour union is doing or say”.