Just when Nigerians are still grappling with the ongoing resident Doctors strike, the Healthcare Sector is set for total shutdown as the joint Health sector unions, JOHESU And the Assembly Of Healthcare Professionals issued a 15-day strike notice to the Federal Government from Friday, September 3, 202.
The ultimatum is contained in a letter made available to ait.live addressed to the Minister of Health, Osagie Enahire, and signed by the JOHESU National Chairman, Biobèlemoye Josiah, Executives and affiliates of Assembly Of Healthcare Professionals.
Copies of the letter have been sent to the SGF, the National Assembly, The Head Of Service reads in compliance with the provisions of Section 41 of the
Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 LFN, 2004, which read that the unions are constrained to inform you that with effect from midnight of Friday, September 17, 2021, all members in the Federal Health Institutions, shall embark on an indefinite strike, while State and Local Government health institutions are also placed on red alert, to join the strike if the Federal Government foot drags in attending to their demands.
JOHESU noted that it has always exhibited maturity, selflessness, and patriotism even in the face of extreme provocations and the government’s non-challant attitude, to the welfare of its members and thinks that this has been taken for granted, following the inability of the Federal Government To Keep To the Agreement Reached.
JOHESU Says the 15day ultimatum, is necessitated by the nonchalant bias and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government to the plight of Health workers, in spite of the benevolence and the long notice given on its issues.
It says the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Labour and employment continue to give the impression that JOHESU members do not
have the capacity to endure hunger as they are vulnerable and poor, a perception that is untrue and will be put to test in the weeks ahead if government remains adamant.
Some demands of JOHESU include; wrongful payment of June 2020 Salary following the April and May Shortfalls.
Delay in rectifying omissions in the payment of COVID-19 Special inducement and Hazard allowance as promised.
Failure of the Federal Government to honour Terms of Settlement entered on September 30, 2017, which was centered on the upward review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, agreed to be completed within five weeks from September 30, 2017.
The Health workers are also demanding for the Establishment Of the Regulatory Councils For Dieticians, Medical Social Workers And Clinical Psychologists.
Part of these also includes the Non-payment of skipping and promotions allowances, as well as non-implementation of skipping in Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Part of Johesu demand are the Proper implementation of the consultant Pharmacist Cadre for the Pharmacists in the public sector and proper placement of Nurses Graduates and Interns.
The Nonpayment of actual 30% consolidated Basic shift duty allowance to Nurses and Midwives as well as the non-payment of teaching allowances to Nurses and Midwives on CONHESS 7 and 8 are also part it.
Others are the increase of retirement age for Health workers from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants, upward review of hazard allowance from N5,000, and payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of workers, following the enforcement. Of “No Work, No Pay” when the union embarked on strike.
(Edited by Tunde Orebiyi)
