The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals have resolved and directed their members to stop work in all federal hospitals as they begin a seven-day nationwide warning strike from midnight of Sunday, September 13.
This was contained in a letter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and made available to reporters.
The letter read in parts that “…You would recall that at the end of the meeting held in your office on Thursday, September 10, 2020, JOHESU demanded that the outcome of the meeting between them and the Federal Government be reported back to our expanded NEC meeting and give feedback to the Federal Government within 48 hours.
“In the light of the above, the meeting of our expanded NEC was held, and at the end of the meeting, which was held both physically and virtually, it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive.
“Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists, and with effect from midnight of Sunday, September 13, 2020, our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands…”
The health workers have demanded for corrections on errors and omissions during the payment of the three months hazard allowances as well as immediate payment of April and May salaries in 2018, which the workers considered as victimization for embarking on strike.
The workers are also demanding adjustment to their salary structure, the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS.
As at the time of this report the Federal Government is yet to react to the decision of the health workers to shutdown hospitals.
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The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, had begun strike last week, but after a meeting with the Federal Government delegation on Wednesday, the action was suspended following a Memorandum of Understanding.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
