Top Stories

Health workers begin indefinite strike

Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have embarked on an indefinite strike over the failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands.

The JOHESU National Vice Chairman, Dr Obinna Ogbonna, made the declaration at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, May 25.

Ogbonna directed health workers in the country to stay away from their duty posts pending the time the issues that led to the actions were addressed by the Federal Government.

He said: “It becomes imperative to inform you that since the Federal Government is yet to meet these demands, our members have been directed by the JOHESU National Executive Council to proceed on an indefinite strike action upon expiration of the ultimatum by midnight of May 25, 2023.”

READ ALSO: Resident doctors suspend 5-day warning strike

The leadership of JOHESU had in a letter dated May 9, 2023, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over alleged inconsistencies of the government in the ongoing negotiations to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers on their platforms.

JOHESU is the umbrella body of health workers’ unions and associations, including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions.

The union’s demands include immediate approval and implementation of the Technical Committee Report on CONHESS adjustment by the Federal Government; immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in the federal health institutions and recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities in the payment of new hazard allowances and payment and inculcation of peculiar allowances to health workers under the JOHESU/AHPA.

Others are immediate and unconditional implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant cadre; unconditional payment of all withheld salaries of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); April and May 2018 salaries of members at National Obstetric, Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Azare, Bauchi State; and speedy implementation of the increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants in the health professions.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Real estate developer gifts Peller, Jarvis N400m mansion at wedding

Popular Nigerian content creator and TikTok star Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and his…

6 hours ago

Health workers threaten legal action against SSANU, NASU over allowance dispute

Health workers in Nigeria's federal tertiary institutions have threatened to sue the Senior Staff Association…

7 hours ago

Canada issues 10 tips to help applicants avoid immigration delays

The Canadian government has released 10 guidelines aimed at helping travellers, prospective immigrants and citizenship…

7 hours ago

Fubara’s biggest mistake was building own structure — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said Rivers State Governor Siminalayi…

9 hours ago

Kaduna govt graduates over 1,000 forest guards to boost fight against terrorism

The Kaduna State Government has graduated over 1,000 Armed Forest Guards as part of efforts…

9 hours ago

65 Nigerian ambassadors cleared by host nations, as Reno Omokri, others remain unresolved

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that 65 of the 69 ambassadorial nominees appointed…

10 hours ago

This website uses cookies.