In a significant development, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), an umbrella organization representing various health workers’ unions, has decided to suspend their indefinite strike for a period of 21 days.
Mr. Obinna Ogbonna, the National Vice President of JOHESU, made this announcement during a press briefing on Monday. Ogbonna attributed the decision to the progress made during the union’s engagement with President Bola Tinubu.
He revealed that following their meeting with the president, the health workers held a crucial discussion and unanimously agreed to call off the strike, providing the government with a 21-day timeline to address their concerns.
During the meeting at the villa, President Tinubu earnestly pleaded with the striking health workers to have faith in his ability to resolve the ongoing issues amicably, ensuring positive outcomes that would be advantageous to all parties involved.
“We met with President Tinubu at the villa and he pleaded with the striking health workers to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“The president says that he will resolve the matters amicably to our own benefit and positive results,” Ogbonna said.
To assess the progress and the dedication of state actors in resolving the matter, the union’s congress considered the president’s plea and endorsed the 21-day timeline.
This period will serve as a crucial evaluation period to determine the government’s level of commitment toward meeting the demands put forth by JOHESU.
The Joint Health Sector Unions is an amalgamation 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 unions have presented a comprehensive list of demands, which include the immediate approval and implementation of the Technical Committee Report on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment by the federal government.
They also emphasize the immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances for affected health workers in federal health institutions.
Additionally, JOHESU calls for the recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities regarding the payment of new hazard allowances and the provision of peculiar allowances to health workers under the JOHESU/AHPA.
Other demands encompass the unconditional implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant cadre and the immediate and unconditional payment of all withheld salaries of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, and April and May 2018 salaries of members at the National Obstetric Fistula Center (NOFIC) in Azare, Bauchi State.
Furthermore, the union urges the speedy implementation of the increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants in the health professions.
The leadership of JOHESU had previously issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, expressing their concerns about alleged inconsistencies in the ongoing negotiations to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers on their platforms.
With the suspension of the strike, there is hope that the government will address the demands put forth by JOHESU within the specified timeline, ensuring a positive resolution that would alleviate the grievances of the health workers and facilitate the smooth functioning of the healthcare sector.
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