THE Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Care Professional Association (AHPA) have declared an indefinite strike.
National Vice President of JOHESU, Dr Obinna Ogbonna said at a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday that health workers across the country were to stay away from their duty posts until the Federal Government addresses the issues that precipitated the strike.
JOHESU is an umbrella body of unions and associations in the Nigerian health sector, including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and Senior Staff Association of Universities’ Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions.
Recall that JOHESU had in a letter dated May 9, 2023, called on the Federal Government to within 15 days address inconsistencies of the government in the ongoing negotiations to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers on their platforms.
Specifically, the union demanded immediate approval and implementation of the Technical Committee Report on CONHESS adjustment by the federal government; immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in the federal health institutions and recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities in the payment of new hazard allowances and payment and inculcation of peculiar allowances to health workers under the JOHESU/AHPA.
Others are immediate and unconditional implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant cadre; unconditional payment of all withheld salaries of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri,Jos University Teaching Hospital,JUTH,Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and April and May 2018 salaries of members at National Obstetric, Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Azare, Bauchi State and speedy implementation of the increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants in the health professions.
“It becomes imperative to inform you that since the Federal Government is yet to meet these demands, our members have been directed by the JOHESU National Executive Council to proceed on an indefinite strike action upon expiration of the ultimatum by midnight of May 25, 2023,” Dr Ogbonna said at Thursday’s press briefing.