JUST IN: Health workers announce seven-day warning strike

Health workers under the auspices Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have declared seven days warning strike over the failure of the federal government to address some of its critical welfare issues which has been in dispute.

The health workers have however warned that at the end of the seven days warning strike which commences midnight of 25th October 2024, its members would embark on an indefinite strike should government fail to meet its demands

Recall that the unions had issued a 15 day ultimatum to the federal government on the 10th of October 2024, to address the issues or risk total shut down of its operations in hospitals nationwide

Addressing newsmen at the end of its expanded National Executive Council (NEC) hybrid meeting held on Friday in Abuja, National President of JOHESU, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, regretted that thus far, the unions were yet to get any positive response from the federal government on some of the critical issues raised, despite repeated assurances during meetings with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

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The issues includes; Immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, immediate payment of 25 % CONHESS Review arrears (June – December, 2023), Immediate payment of nine (9) months’ (January ~ September, 2024) salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies and immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institution, commencement of the process to upwardly review retirement age of health workers through Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW) to Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Other issues under contention are tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances. vii. Immediate payment of COVID 19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers., immediate suspension of planned establishment and activities of National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA) = as_ being promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Also, JOHESU is demanding the withdrawal of the unlawful Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as the full implementation of approved entry point, call duty and other allowances for holders of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D).

He said, “In compliance with the Provisions of Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, members of JOHESU affiliate Unions from Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) with effect from midnight of today, 25‘ October, 2024. in the Federal Health Institutions shall embark on seven (7) days strike action.

“However, if at the end of the seven (7) days warning strike, the Federal Government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU have no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.

“Nigerians should note that, this action could have been avoided if the Federal Government had within the window of the 15-Day notice of strike or ultimatum was responded by utilizing all options available in the relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to apprehend this dispute of right.

“JOHESU is always committed to the use of the instrumentality of Social Dialogue to resolve matters affecting the welfare and working conditions of members.

“We shall therefore keep all our channels of communication open during this period of seven days warning strike.

“The general public should bear with us all inconveniences the withdrawal of services of health workers under the umbrella of JOHESU might cause during this period.

“We urge the consumers of health care and well-meaning Nigerians to empathize with us and also give solidarity to this struggle which is aimed at making healthcare delivery effective, accessible and affordable in the country.

“JOHESU has always exhibited maturity, selflessness and patriotism even in the face of extreme provocations and government’s long delay in meeting our demands and we think that our maturity and patriotism have been taken for granted.

“JOHESU urges members to comply with this directive accordingly. JOHESU however warns that, no member should be victimized on the account of this action which is a dispute of right.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE