JOHESU ‘Relaxes Strike’ In 4 States, Wants Health Minister Sacked

Following the “implementation” of the agreement by the states, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has called off its strike in Lagos, Kano, Yobe and Niger states.

This was contained in a statement by JOHESU chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah, during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

Josiah, in the statement called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack minister of health, Isaac Adewole, for allegedly taking sides with doctors in the ongoing strike.

He demanded a new negotiating team to replace that of Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment and Adewole, accusing the duo of bias against them because they are medical doctors.

“The federal ministry of health as presently led by Prof. Isaac Adewole has constituted itself as a major hindrance to fruitful deliberation as he has never disguised his intention to symbolise the propaganda machine of the NMA through his posturing at all our meetings, which necessitated JOHESU to take a position that the negotiations were structured to fail ab-initio,” he said.

“Prof. Isaac Adewole is on record to have insisted that the wage structure in the health sector must reckon with what was obtainable in the 1991 late Prof. Olikoye Ransome –Kuti’s dual salary system (MSS and HSS) which marked the beginning of persistent acrimony until it was corrected through the harmonised tertiary institutions salary Structure and HAPSS in 2003.

“The ministers of labour and health, who are both members of the NMA, have taken a position that parity must entail a basic salary differential in the emolument of health professionals and their doctor colleagues.

“As bonafide citizens, we however reject a slave mentality which present salary wages confers on us.”

Recall that JOHESU commenced strike on April 17, demanding an upward review of their salaries to be at same level with the doctors.

Recall also that the National Industrial Court in Abuja, yesterday, ordered all health workers to resume within 24 hours.