Written by Ndidi Chukwu
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) which commenced an indefinite strike on the 12th of November 2014, has accused the Federal Government of treating their demands with “disdain and levity”.
JOHESU President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in Abuja, during a press briefing said the Federal Government is not mindful of the fact that JOHESU members constitute 95 percent of the entire workforce in the health industry.
The Union’s 10 point demands, which boarders on promotion of members, immediate release of circular and adjustment of salary since January 2014 and payment of at least two months arrears which the union have agreed to receive pending when the balance will come later 2015. The union is also calling for extension of retirement age, which will address the lopsided in the membership of board of management of Tertiary hospitals, and clear definition of the functions and power of Honourary consultants in teaching hospitals. It is also agitating for appointment of more hospital based consultants, Wabba said the Federal Government have signed an agreement to implement all since 2010 but have not fulfilled its promise.
He said “FG’s ineptitude and unwillingness to make any meaningful progress on our demands for more than 3 years now had exposed us to ridicule and insult from the rank and file of our members.” “Instead of addressing issues in dispute, the Federal Government continued tactics of filibustering has no way helped matters”
“None of the issue have been fully implemented, our members cannot remain in bondage when the interest of others are being met , until these issues are resolved, and our strike will remain indefinite” Wabba said
Among JOHESU’s plight is non implementation of some circulars that have been passed already on some of the Union’s demands “where circulars were issued , the various Federal Tertiary Health institutions have flagrantly disobeyed such directives without proper sanction from the Federal Ministry of health, a case of the tail wagging the dog”
He debunked reports published by Leadership and Daily Trust Newspapers that we are considering calling off the strike, none of the issues have been conclusively addressed and so such reports are not true, our dialogue and agreements remain inconclusive. We solicit for the understanding of the public on the issue we are mindful of the concerns of the Nigerian citizens and we want them to be patient, we are fighting a noble cause to regain the confidence of our members.
“We have had meeting with the Ministry of Health, they have told us to wait, that has been their response, but we keep waiting for them to be ready to implement, if not the strike remains indefinite” Wabba said
“We have been long suffering, matured and over patriotic which has limits, and the strike is our last resort to address government’s lack of commitment, reciprocal good will extended to it by JOHESU in resolving our demands on a permanent basis” Wabba said
JOHESU maintains its stand on the strike which is said remains indefinite until the FG stops “exposing its members to ridicule”.
This is coming after the Union has had unfruitful meetings close to ten times from the 7th of January 2014, till the 6th of November, Which have all been unproductive.
