JOHESU issues 30-day strike ultimatum to FG

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has issued a 30-day strike notice to the Federal government on the non-implementation of the agreement reached with the body.

National Chairman, JOHESU, Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, addressing members of the unions at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, decried what he called preferential treatment being given to some unions in the health sector at the expense of others.

Comrade Josiah said that the unions had exercised enough patience for the government to implement the agreement want actions expedited on the matter, adding its reluctance to embark on strike was because lives lost during the strike cannot be reversed.

According to him, the delegation is going around all health institutions in the country and sensitising its members that the Federal government had not taken concrete steps to actualise its agreement with the unions five months after.

“It is proper that we let our people know the steps we have taken so far on the issue at stake and that the government that promised to solve our problems within five weeks, but five months have gone they have not done anything.

“If the government wants to push us to another strike, we are ready. It took the government 15 days from 6^th September to 21 September to adjust the CONMESS for some grades in the doctors’ cadre

“We entered into an agreement with them on 30^th of September, 2017 and this led to the suspension of our previous strike action. Five months have gone and we are still counting, the government has not come up with the approval for our CONHESS adjustment.”

Comrade Josiah, who said the Federal government treats workers in the sector differently, declared despite an earlier 21-day notice of compliance to the Federal government, there was no response, adding that at the expiration of the 30 days ultimatum, there would be a no going back on a nationwide strike.

According to him, “when we met with them on December 18^th, 2017, they told us that they had sent the letter to the Presidency on the 9^th of December, 2017 and from that day and till now, which is well over 60 days, we have heard not from them.”

• JOHESU laments discrimination between health workers, doctors

Other union leaders who spoke at the sensitisation meeting said there was n going back on the nationwide strike, stressing that the injustice in the health sector must be stopped.