The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, has agreed to proceed on a strike action from midnight of Sunday, September 13, 2020.
This followed a meeting of its National Executive Council, held on Saturday. The leadership of JOHESU had met with government representatives, which included the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, and were told to report back to the government’s negotiation team on Saturday, September 12.
However, after the meeting on Saturday ended in a deadlock, JOHESU made its resolution known in a letter titled: “Re: Notice of 15-day ultimatum/outcome of JOHESU expanded NEC meeting”.
The memo reads, “You would recall that at the end of the meeting held in your office on Thursday September 10 2020, JOHESU demanded that the outcome of the meeting between JOHESU and the Federal Government be reported back to our expanded NEC meeting and give a feed back to the Federal government within 48 hours.
“In the light of the above, the meeting of our expanded NEC was held today, Saturday September 12 2020. And at the end of the meeting, which was held both physically and virtually, it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive.
“Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists and with effect from midnight of Sunday September 13 2020, our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government inability to meet their demands. Kindly accept the assurances of our high esteem.”
The letter was signed by JOHESU President, Biobelemoye Josiah; Secretary-General, Dr. Silas Adamu; President of Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, Dr. Benjamin Akintola; General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, and Martin Egbanubi, among others, and sent to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
The union wants the Federal Government to pay the shortfall in COVID-19 hazard allowances for their members; address the failures and decaying infrastructure in the health sector, and adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure.
Other demands are payment of all outstanding salary arrears and implementation of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria consent judgment and other court judgments.