In a statement issued on Sunday, the Forum also endorsed the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government, describing the intervention of the two labour centres as “long overdue.”
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), warning that Nigeria is sliding deeper into a healthcare catastrophe due to what it described as the Federal Government’s “deliberate and insensitive neglect” of health workers’ welfare.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Forum also endorsed the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government, describing the intervention of the two labour centres as “long overdue.”
According to the statement signed by Comrade Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum and former TUC Chairman in Oyo State, and Comrade Ogundele Ayo, General Secretary of the Forum, the protracted strike has exposed the government’s “cruel disregard for human lives”.
The group noted that Nigerians are dying daily in public hospitals as a result of unresolved labour disputes, poor funding, and policy inconsistency.
FWF described health workers as the backbone of any functional healthcare system, warning that continued neglect of their welfare would further collapse Nigeria’s already fragile health sector.
The group said it fully supports the stance taken by the NLC and TUC and called for a total and sustained shutdown of activities nationwide if the government fails to immediately engage with JOHESU and meet its demands.
The Forum insisted that no responsible government would allow a health sector strike to drag on for this long, accusing the current administration of indifference to the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
The statement read in parts, "The lingering and clearly deliberate failure of the Federal Government to address the legitimate demands and welfare concerns of health sector workers is not only deeply painful but also exposes a cruel and insensitive disposition towards the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“Every day, countless citizens lose their lives in public hospitals due to the government’s persistent neglect, policy somersaults, and deafening silence in the face of workers’ demands. This situation is unacceptable and condemnable.
"Health workers are the backbone of any functional healthcare system. When their welfare is ignored, hospitals are reduced from centres of healing and recovery to centres of avoidable deaths.
“The present state of Nigeria’s health institutions is a direct consequence of the government’s nonchalant and irresponsible attitude towards workers’ welfare and healthcare funding.”
“We strongly call for a total and sustained shutdown of activities if necessary, as a means of compelling the current administration to immediately engage with the unions, meet the demands of the striking health sector workers, and take urgent steps to rescue the collapsing health sector,” the group said.
According to FWF, “no responsible government that truly values human lives would allow the health sector strike persist this long”.
“It appears our government don't seem to care,” it said. “The FWF had earlier called for solidarity protest in support of JOHESU and that the NLC/TUC should declare a national action in support of the striking health sector workers.”
The FWF warned that federal workers are ready to join the strike and mass protests if the government remains adamant, urging the NLC and TUC to mobilise civil society organisations for broader nationwide action.
"We the federal workers are fully ready for the strikes and protest and we urge the NLC/TUC to call for further solidarity matches from civil society organizations,” FWF said.
“We advise the federal government to immediately meet up with the demands of the striking health sector workers, we equally call on all the federal workers except for those on essential duties to get ready for total shutdown if government continues to be adamant," the statement added.