FMC Lokoja workers down tools, protest against attack
Staff members of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Kogi State on Thursday withdrew their services following Wednesday’s attack on the facility by yet-to-be identified thugs.
Rising from an emergency meeting of the Joint Action Congress (JAC) held on Wednesday, the workers resolved to totally withdraw their services across board till further notice.
A statement by the leaders of JAC, said the decision was premised on the attack on their lives and properties by unknown hoodlums on Wednesday.
They alleged that equipment like infrared thermometers, laptops, ATM cards, car keys and two motorcycles were carted away by the hoodlums, who also vandalized the administrative block of the centre.
According to them, they won’t resume duty until their demands, which include guaranties of security of lives and property, adequate provision of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) and validation of COVID-19 status of staff members on self -isolation are met.
They also demanded the expansion of triangle points and provision of testing facilities (PCR machine). Other demands include number of patients to be attended to per clinic should be 20 per day, while those on appointment should be stratified into two sessions to reduce crowding.
The workers resolution was sent to the state commissioner of police, director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as other security agencies in the state.
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The resolution was signed by Dr. Adeyemi Williams, Dr. Nnana Agwu, Obajemu Samuel, Lawal Mohammed, John Omoche, Usman Gabriel and Abdulmalik Idris as representatives of the various unions.
Some hoodlums had invaded the facility, vandalising hospital and office equipment worth millions of naira, while claiming to be protesting against the hospital’s authorities over their insistence on testing and isolating suspected COVID -19 patients.
The state government is also uncomfortable with the the centre’s insistence on testing for COVID.
The governor insists that state is coronavirus-free, a position that has led to friction with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
