Report just reaching us says the Federal Government has directed the various Unions in the Health Sector operating under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU not to go ahead with the strike scheduled for midnight, Sunday, September 13, 2020, saying the Ministry of Labour and Employment has apprehended the dispute with the conciliation initiated on Thursday, September 9, 2020, which is still ongoing.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan says going ahead with the action would be illegal as it is in clear breach of the International labor organization’s Principles and Conventions on Strike and Sec. 18 of the Trades Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The statement Urges JOHESU not to arm-twist or intimidate the Federal Government that has shown a clear commitment to tackling the challenges in the sector as evidenced by the huge resources it has been pouring into the Sector since the Global Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the statement said.
The statement noted in parts that “…The Honorable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has effectively apprehended the trade dispute as forwarded to him by JOHESU and has brought JOHESU and the Federal Ministry of Health, their employers, to conciliation since Thursday, September 9, 2020.
Also Read : JOHESU to suspend planned warning strike
Parties in disputes are expected not to arm-twist, intimidate or foist helplessness on the other party while negotiations are ongoing as per Sections 8 and 18 of the Trade Dispute Act 2004 barring any strike when the matters are before a Conciliator and undergoing conciliation…” end of quote.
The federal government says any strike now is inimical to an equitable settlement of the dispute, bearing in mind especially I this grave period of a pandemic where the Federal Government has spent about N20 billion to pay April/May 2020 and an additional N8.9 billion for June 2020 on Covid-19 hazard and inducement allowances respectively to all categories of health workers that are mainly JOHESU members.
The statement added that “…Besides, all Health workers on essential services such as Pharmacists, Nurses Midwives, Radiographers as members of JOHESU are statutorily barred from strikes during emergencies, by both the ILO Statutes and the Trade Dispute Act 2004.
Such an action while the nation battles the Covid-19 emergency accentuates its illegality, as it will compound and aggravate the challenges in health services, causing further risk and deaths to the sick in hospitals across the country as the Covid-19 pandemic has been declared as a situation of “Acute National Health crisis” by both the ILO and World Health Organisation, WHO, whose Statutes and regulations have forbidden strike for the period…” end of quote.
In a swift reaction, JOHESU says health workers should disregard c government’s statement as it is full of insincerity and that the strike billed for midnight stands.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
