By kawaekwune Jeffrey
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals have given the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to address their welfare demands or face a nationwide strike.
The unions, on Wednesday, conveyed their resolution to resume a suspended strike starting October 25 if their grievances remain unaddressed.
It would be recalled that JOHESU, an umbrella body of various healthcare unions including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, had previously embarked on a strike between May 19 and June 6, 2023, which was suspended following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Their outstanding demands include the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), the implementation of a consultant cadre for pharmacists, and the extension of the retirement age for healthcare workers.
The unions stressed that their patience has been stretched thin by the government’s continued inaction.
Kabiru Minjibir, JOHESU’s national chairman, and Martin Egbanubi, the union’s national secretary, in a memo addressed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, stated: “JOHESU has always exhibited maturity, selflessness, and patriotism even in the face of extreme provocations and the government’s long delay in meeting these demands of workers under JOHESU. We believe our maturity and patriotism have been taken for granted.”
The memo further outlines JOHESU’s demands, including the payment of arrears related to CONHESS, the settlement of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances for omitted health workers, and the suspension of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA) activities. They also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Standard Operating Procedures by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Despite previous assurances from the government, the unions are adamant that further delays might trigger an indefinite strike, should their demands continue to be ignored.
“This 15-day ultimatum is necessitated by the non-response of the Federal Government to the plight of our members, despite our benevolence,” the memo concluded.
