The Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU), in collaboration with the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA), has announced a seven-day nationwide warning strike scheduled to commence at midnight on Friday, October 25, 2024.
This was announced by The National President of JOHESU, Kabiru Minjibir while addressing the press after the unions' expanded National Executive Council (NEC) hybrid meeting in Abuja on Friday.
Minjibir indicated that the unions have yet to receive a favorable response from the federal government concerning several critical issues, despite repeated assurances during discussions with the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He stated, “If, after the seven-day warning strike, the federal government fails to address our demands, JOHESU will have no alternative but to pursue an indefinite strike action.”
Nigerians should understand that this measure could have been averted had the federal government taken appropriate action within the 15-day notice of strike or ultimatum, utilizing the mechanisms available under the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to resolve this dispute.
“JOHESU remains committed to employing social dialogue to resolve issues impacting the welfare and working conditions of its members. We will maintain open communication channels throughout this period,” he asserted.
It can be recalled that the unions issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government on October 10, 2024, demanding the rectification of the issues or warning of a total shutdown of hospital operations nationwide.
The workers are advocating for the immediate implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Scale (CONHESS) adjustment, the prompt payment of 25 percent of CONHESS Review arrears (June – December 2023), and the immediate disbursement of nine months’ salary (January – September 2024) to personnel of Regulatory Agencies.
Other demands include the restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, the reconstitution of Boards and Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions, and the initiation of a process to review the retirement age of health workers through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for consideration by the Federal Executive Council.
Additional issues include the request for a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, the immediate provision of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers, and the suspension of the planned establishment and activities of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA).
Furthermore, JOHESU is demanding the withdrawal of the unlawful Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as the full implementation of approved entry points, call duty, and additional allowances for holders of the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree.
The members of JOHESU consist of affiliates from the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
