Health Crisis: More Trouble For FG As JOHESU Begins Indefinite Strike September 17

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association have hinted on plans to embark on an indefinite strike action over outstanding welfare issues with the union.

This is coming on the 32nd day of the strike action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors.

Recall, the National Association of Resident Doctors had embarked on an indefinite strike on 2nd of August to protest the government’s failure to implement the agreements it entered with the union in the month of April.

The National President of the Association, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, had decried that only four percent of the total budget is being allocated to the health sector, while over 20 percent are spent on salaries for public servants.

He also revealed that out of the 19 families of medical doctors that died while treating COVID-19 patients, only one family has received the death-in-service insurance which was promised by the government.

However, JOHESU in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, and other relevant stakeholders by its National President, Biobelemonye Josiah on Saturday, threatened to down tools effective from midnight of September 17 if its demands are not met.

The demands of JOHESU according to the letter include adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES) as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since 2014, payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of members and those withheld in Federal Medical Center, Owerri, JUTH and LUTH.

Also included in the demands are review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance, implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Consent judgment and other court judgments, increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals.

Others are payment of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantee fairness and justice to all concerned, payment of actual 30 per cent consolidated basic shift duty allowance to Nurses/Midwives and others.

“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 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.

He noted that the government was yet to honour the terms of settlement entered into with the Union 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,” he said.

He explained further that in July 2020, the Minister of Health agreed that a mistake was made by the government in the payment of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowances.