By Chioma Umeha
Professor Isaac
Adewole, Minister of Health, has appealed to the leadership of the Joint Health
Staff Union (JOHESU) to prevail on their members to shelve their planned strike
action.
In a statement signed
by Boade Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of
Health (FMOH), Professor Adewole said government has continued its negotiation
with the Union and hoped that issues in contention will be addressed through
consensus.
The Minister further
urged them to consider the interest of Nigerians who are the ultimate victims
of the strike action.
The Minister assured
the JOHESU Leadership of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the
wellbeing of all Nigerians, including the welfare of stakeholders in the health
sector.
It will be recalled
that the health workers under the auspices of JOHESU and the National
Association of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), recently vowed to embark on
an indefinite nationwide strike should government fail to meet their
demands by 30th, September 2017.
In a statement jointly
signed by the National President, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna and its National General
Secretary, Com. O.A Obisessan, the unions claimed that the ultimatum earlier
issued to the government is expected to elapse on the 12th of September, 2017.
The duo, who accused
the Health and Labour ministries of conspiracy against the unions, declared
that the unions were not considering resuming strike immediate due to
mobilization factors and the need to give the Government further room to
address their demands.
“Come 30th September, 2017, if the Government refuses to meet our
demands, the unions will have no other option than to shut down health care
services nationwide”, the unions said.
In their 23- point
demands, the unions are demanding the revamping of infrastructure in the
tertiary health institutions; implement the report of the inter-ministerial
sub-committee on critical matters in the health sector as well as addressing
issues such as professional autonomy.
The Unions also want
the government to address the issue of headship of departments/units in
hospitals, enhanced entry point (EEP) for medical laboratory scientists and
radiographers, non- payment of backlog of arrears, residency training for other
health professionals, appointments of consultants and payment of specialist
allowance, and post of surgeon general, among other issues.
