The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Oyo state branch, Sunday called on the state government to accede to the demands of nurses in the state before the expiration of their 14-day ultimatum. 

CDWR in a statement by its Oyo state coordinator, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, said this is necessary to avert an avoidable shutdown of all the public hospitals across the state. 

The CDWR said it welcomes the decision  National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Oyo state chapter, on  the 14-Day ultimatum issued to Gov. Seyi Makinde-led government.

It added that the ultimatum showed that a concerted and determined struggle of nurses and midwives, including other workers across the state will be needed to prevail on Gov  Makinde-led government to ensure that all demands  are acceded to. 

“We of the CDWR support all these demands and call on the state government to accede to them before the expiration of the 14-Day ultimatum to avert an avoidable shutdown of all the public hospitals across the state,” it stated. 

CDWR added: ” The fact that nurses had to issue an ultimatum has further underscored our consistent position in the CDWR that Makinde-led government is far from being called  workers’ friendly.  

“No worker friendly government will allow ultimatum to be issued on things that affect the living and working conditions of workers. Indeed, this issue of nurses especially shows how insensitive Governor Makinde is to the plight of ordinary people. 

“His anti-worker attitude has contributed to the lingering shortage of nurses and other health workers in the state. It is important to state that most nurses and other health workers relocate out of the country largely because of poor pay and working conditions.

“It is on this basis that we call on the state leadership of NANNM  to immediately commence mobilisation of both their members and the general public in preparation for a possible strike and mass action which must be non-negotiable should the state government fail to accede to their demands at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum,” the CDWR said.