The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of
Healthcare Professional Association have threatened to commence an indefinite
strike in 15 days if the federal government does not address “outstanding
welfare issues”.
JOHESU is the umbrella body for all health workers’ unions
and associations.
Biobelemonye Josiah, JOHESU’s national president, issued the
strike notice in a letter addressed to Chris Ngige, minister of labour and
employment, and other relevant stakeholders on Saturday.
He listed some of the welfare issues to include the
adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES), payment of all
withheld salaries, review of the implementation of COVID-19 special inducement
and hazard allowance, increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health
workers and 70 years for consultants, among others.
“Others are payment
of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantee fairness and justice
to all concerned, payment of actual 30 percent consolidated basic shift duty
allowance to nurses/midwives and others,” Josiah said.
“Payment of teaching allowance to members on CONHESS 7 and 8
(nurses, midwives and others) and proper placement of nurse graduates and
interns.”
The JOHESU president said other demands are the payment of
outstanding salaries of intern health professionals and proper implementation
of the consultant pharmacist cadre for pharmacists in the public sector.
He added: “You will recall that up till the time of writing
this letter, the federal government has not deemed it fit to honour the terms
of settlement entered into with JOHESU since September 2017.
“This is especially the upward review of CONHESS salary structure
as agreed, to be completed within five weeks from the date of agreement amongst
other requests.
“Government did not deem it fit to address these key issues
during the duration of the last seven days warning strike and has only met with
JOHESU on July 12.
“JOHESU, in compliance with the provision of Section 41 of
the Trade Disputes Act Cap.T8 LFN 2004, is constrained to give the Federal
Government of Nigeria 15 days ultimatum with effect from September 3.
“This also is to
inform you that with effect from midnight of September 17, all our members in
the federal health institutions shall embark on an indefinite strike action in
all state and local government health institutions.
“You are all placed on red alert for the strike if the
federal government foot drags in attending to our demands.”
He said the union has shown patriotism despite the
government’s “nonchalant attitude” to the welfare of health workers.
The strike notice of JOHESU is coming one month after the
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on a
yet-to-be-suspended indefinite strike.
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