Health Workers Give FG Ultimatum, Threaten Indefinite Strike

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, an umbrella body covering all professionals in the health sector in the country, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to implement all agreements reached with the union or face indefinite strike action.

Activities at the 56 federal medical centres and other tertiary health care institutions across the country may be paralysed soon as the Union is poised for a showdown with the government.

JOHESU comprises 5 professional bodies namely: Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigerian, MHWUN, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAI, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals and Non Academic Staff Union Educational And Associated Institutes, NASU.

The ultimatum was issued at a press briefing by the leadership of the union in Abeokuta,the State capital on Friday.

According to the President of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Nurse Alani Adeniji, who read a statement signed by the National Secretary of JOHESU, Yusuf Badmus, the Union had been patient enough with the federal government saying all but one of the 15 demands of the Union has been pending for years.

“In view of the inability of the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to meet our demands, the federal government intervened through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“However, from January to September 2014, very little has been achieved as most agreements earlier reached between federal government and JOHESU are not implemented.

“We therefore demand immediate resolution of all matters pending between JOHESU and FG within the next 15 days i.e not later than October 8th, 2014, or face indefinite strike action,” Adeniji said.

The Union listed its demand to include non promotion of members from level 14 to 15, immediate release of circular on adjustment of salary as done for doctors since January 2014.

Also, the Union demanded immediate release of circular on the extension of retirement age to be backdated to February 2014, payment of arrears of the specialist allowance to qualified hospital based professionals with effect from January 2010.

According to Adeniji, the only new item on the demands is demand number 15 which spells out some allowances and reduction of tax.

The Union President said, “need to urgently set up a collective bargaining agreement committee to look at the following allowances for JOHESU members, headship allowance, administrative allowance, professional allowance, excess workload allowance, health and safety site allowance and responsibility allowance.

“Reduction of the excess taxation on health workers salaries. It is absurd to be taxing professional allowances. Restoration of working days as annual leave.It is our hope that government would quickly accede to these demands bearing in mind that JOHESU have exercised sufficient patience and maturity for more than one year over the demands,” Adeniji posited.