Health workers under the auspices Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have declared a seven-day nationwide warning strike commencing from midnight of Oct. 25.
JOHESU’s National President, Kabiru Minjibir, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the end of the unions’ expanded National Executive Council (NEC) hybrid meeting in Abuja yesterday.
Minjibir regretted that, thus far, the unions were yet to get any positive response from the Federal Government on some of the critical issues raised in spite of repeated assurances during meetings with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs).
“Nigerians should note that, this action would have been avoided if the Federal Government had, within the window of the 15-day notice of strike or ultimatum, responded by utilising all options available in the relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to apprehend this dispute of right.
“If at the end of the seven days warning strike, the Federal Government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU have no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action”, he stated.
Recall that the unions had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on Oct. 10, 2024, to address the issues or risk total shut down of its operations in hospitals nationwide.
The workers were demanding the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, immediate payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears (June – Dec., 2023), and Immediate payment of nine (9) months’ (Jan – Sept. 2024) salary to workers of Regulatory Agencies.
Other demands are the immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions.
