JUST-IN: Health Workers Declare Indefinite Strike 

Health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have commenced indefinite strike from 12am on Thursday, May 24, to press home their demands for health workers’ entitlements.

JOHESU is the umbrella body of five affiliate unions namely Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI), Non-academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association (AHPA).

JOHESU national vice chairman, Ogbona Chimela, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, said: “consequent upon the non-challant, bias and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Ministry of Health against JOHESU members and the resolution of the expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of JOHESU on Monday, 8th May, 2023, our members in the federal health Institutions nationwide are hereby directed to withdraw their services indefinitely commencing from 00:00hour on Thursday, 25th May, 2023.”

He said the issue in dispute were “Adjustment of consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS), payment of peculiar allowances to health workers under the aegis of JOHESU/AHPA, immediate and unconditional implementation of the Consultant Cadre Circular for pharmacists in all federal health Institutions.

“Payment of all withheld salaries of our members in Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and outstanding April and May, 2018 salaries of members in Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare, payment of health workers exclude in the payment of new allowances.”

The health workers, have therefore, demanded the immediate approval and implementation of the technical committee report non CONHESS adjustment by the federal government and immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in the institutions.

They also demanded the recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities in the payment of new hazard allowance and immediate and unconditional implementation of the pharmacist Consultant Cadre.