Health workers suspend 7-day warning strike

Health workers under the Joint Health Sector (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA) have suspended their seven-day warning strike in the country.

The health workers suspended the warning strike effective from midnight on October 31, 2024, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in the general public interest.

The National Chairman of JOHESU, Kabiru Minjibir,  said this in a communique jointly signed by the National Secretary of the union, Martin Egbanubi, on Thursday.

It would be recalled that JOHESU embarked on a seven-day warning strike on October 25 to press home its demands from the federal government.

It said the decision to suspend the warning strike was taken at a hybrid emergency meeting of the Expanded National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.

It said the expanded NEC comprised of the Presidents and General Secretaries of JOHESU affiliate unions and professional Associations, National Executive Council (NEC) members of affiliate Unions and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at the State and Branch levels.

The union stated: “NEC-in-Session critically appraised the various reports and the MoU signed between the JOHESU team and the Federal Government team during the conciliation meeting held on October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Health workers declare 7-day nationwide warning strike

“NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike effective from midnight, Thursday, October 31, 2024, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in general public interest.

“Timeline of six weeks given to the Federal Government to meet all her obligations contained in the MoU.

“Expanded NEC meeting shall be convened upon the expiration of the six weeks’ deadlines to review development and take appropriate decisions.

“Indefinite strike action shall be the next option if the Expanded NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the Federal Government responses to the implementation of her obligations contained in the MoU.”

The demands of the unions include the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, the payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears, and the payment of nine months’ salary to staff of regulatory agencies.

Others are the restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, the reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institution, and the commencement of the process to upwardly review retirement age of health workers, among others.

The Star