Health, Varsity Workers, Begin Seven Days Warning Strike
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have announced a seven-day warning strike starting at midnight on Friday, October 25, 2024.
At a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, stated that the trade dispute with the federal government is long overdue, and the strike is to press home their demands.
Minjibir explained that despite previous meetings and promises from the federal government, there has been no positive response on critical issues.
The demands include the “Immediate implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) Adjustment; immediate payment of 25 per cent CONHESS review arrears dated June to December 2023.
“Immediate payment of nine months’ (January – September 2024) salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies and immediate restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council.
“Immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions; Commencement of the process to upwardly review the retirement age of health workers through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
“Tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances; Immediate payment of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers; Immediate suspension of the planned establishment and activities of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA) as promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“Withdrawal of the unlawful Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and full implementation of approved entry points, call duty, and other allowances for holders of Doctor of Pharmacy.”
The unions attribute their decision to call a seven-day warning strike to a betrayal of trust by the federal government, with full compliance expected from doctors, nurses, pharmacists, senior university staff, and others.
“Consequently, arising from the unanimous resolution adopted during the JOHESU Expanded National Executive Council hybrid meeting held today, Friday, October 25, 2024, and in compliance with the provisions of Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“Members of JOHESU affiliate Unions from the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) with effect from midnight of today, October 25, 2024, in the Federal Health Institutions shall embark on seven (7) days strike action.”
He further warned that should the federal government fail to meet their demands, an indefinite strike would follow.
“If, at the end of the seven-day warning strike, the Federal Government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU has no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.
“Nigerians should note that this action could have been avoided if the Federal Government, within the 15-day notice window, had utilized all available options in the relevant provisions of the Trade Disputes Act Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to resolve this dispute of right,” the union warned.
Health, Varsity Workers, Begin Seven Days Warning Strike is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
