If the government does not address the concerns raised by health workers, the Federal Government-owned hospitals may shut down by the weekend.
Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, AHPA, announced on September 17 an indefinite strike notice to the Federal Government over the latter’s alleged unwillingness to address some of the contentious issues raised by the workers.
Even though the workers said they are not strike mongers, they said they would not hesitate to leave if the government failed to address their demands.
In a statement yesterday, which Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah signed, JOHESU reminded the Federal Government that the 15 days notice stated in its communique issued on Friday, September 17, following its expanded National Executive Council meeting remains in effect.
The expanded NEC comprising Presidents and General Secretaries of affiliate unions had at the meeting critically appraised the reports of JOHESU negotiation and the conciliation meetings with the Federal Government since the declaration of the trade dispute through the earlier fifteen days strike notice issued on September 2, 2021, which expired on September 18, 2021.
Josiah, in the statement yesterday, said, “It is pertinent to draw the attention of the federal government to our fresh fifteen (15) days strike notice, which is billed to expire in the next few days and for it to act to avoid a shutdown of hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
“We also wish to inform the general public that our NEC noted the appeal from President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to show understanding with his administration and the President’s pledge to pay any debt owed health workers.
“We would also wish to note some of the resolutions reached at the end of our not struck how that we are not strike mongers, but just for the federal government to act according to agreements reached.
*We have asked the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during negotiation meetings.
*We Equally asked the Federal Government to ensure that the new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for JOHESU members be compleHigh-Levelbmitted to the “High-Level Body” (HLB) of the FG no later than Wednesday, September 22, 2021, as agreed.
*We also urged the Federal GoverHigh-Levelnsure that the “High-Level Body” (HLB) complete and submit the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget on or before the September 30, 2021 submission window.
“We charged the Federal Government to reciprocate the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to resolve all the demands within the fifteen days window expeditiously.
“We unanimously adopted a resolution to step down the first notice of strike action, which expires midnight on September 17, 2021 and issued a fresh notice of fifteen (15) days.
*While we push for better welfare and conditions of service for our members, we urge the federal government to .reflect the promises of Mr President in the activities relating to our demands to ensure continuous industrial harmony in the health sector.”
