The Federal Government has appealed to health workers not to embark on the planned solidarity strike.

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health made the call while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the plan by federal workers to join their colleagues on strike, this week, at the state level was “immoral and unfair’, since government was paying for their services to Nigerians.

Chukwu urged them to adopt alternative measures, especially dialogue, with the state governments to press home their demands.

He said it was worrisome that some workers at federal hospitals had decided to embark on the solidarity strike.

“We know we have strike at the state level but the Federal Government cannot be directly involved because they are not our employees.

“Certainly, if you want to show solidarity there are better ways of doing that, but for you to join others on strike, is just unfair.

“The Federal Government is paying and it would be immoral that your employer is paying you, not owing you in any form and you are not rendering the service,’’ the minister admonished.

Chukwu urged the medical practitioners to ensure that no Nigerian lost his life because of their decision to embark on any strike.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is determined to ensure the welfare of both our workers and our patients,’’ he added.

The minister warned that government would not condole workers embarking on strike when their salaries were being paid.

“If they do that, it means the government will not be able to pay for services not

rendered,’’ he said.

Chukwu also pleaded with those on strike due to issues relating to non payment of their ‘teaching allowance’ and ‘rural posting allowance’ to go back to work.

He said that government was already consulting the appropriate authorities such as the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission; the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Labour and Productivity for clarification on ambiguous issues regarding those who were to benefit from the allowances.

“Once we get the correct interpretation we will implement it, the way we receive it.

“There is no basis for sector-wise strike since it is not everybody that is entitled to the allowances,’’ Chukwu said.

He also spoke on ‘skipping’, another ambiguous issue in the ministry.

“It is like all the things the labour union wanted have been granted but it would no longer take effect from March 2010 but January 2011,’’ he said.

He, however, advised all associations in the ministry and stakeholders in health sector to forward their presentations and recommendations on the appointment of medical consultant at hospitals to the presidential committee.

The committee was inaugurated last year to look into such appointments.