Health Workers Strike Continues As Meeting With FG End In Deadlock

The strike action commenced by Health workers and other professionals in the health sector will continue as negotiation between the federal government and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, ended in deadlock

This was announced by JOHESU National Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah and National Secretary, Ekpebor Florence in a joint statement issued on Thursday.

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The statement was issued after a meeting in Abuja between the leaders of various unions and the federal government’s negotiation team led by Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

The meeting which held between Tuesday and Wednesday, failed to resolve the crisis.

The issues in contention are non-skipping of salary CONHESS 10; National Health Bill; Presidential Committee report on harmony in the health sector; promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15; consultancy and specialist allowance and call/shift and other professional allowances.

Others are request for implementation of 2008 job evaluation committee report; re-constitution of board of managements of teaching and other tertiary hospitals; need for review of retirement ages and appointment of ministers of health.

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After the meeting, the union, while announcing that the strike will continue, urged its counterparts in the state who had billed to join the industrial action on Thursday to hold for now.

The statement read in part, “As a result of the ongoing negotiation between JOHESU and the Federal Government, the leadership of JOHESU wishes to inform all members that negotiation is ongoing and the strike continues nationwide in all federal health institutions and further directives will be given after meeting with Federal Government on Saturday, 30th, September, 2017.

“In the light of the above, state councils are further directed to put on hold the commencement of their strike initially billed for Thursday, 28th of September, 2017 due to the ongoing talks.”

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