Written by Ndidi Chukwu
The supervising Minister of Health and Minister of State for Health Dr Khliru Alhassan has said the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) Strike, is putting undue stress in Nigeria’s health system.
Alhassan said the union is yet to consider the “passionate appeal” from the ministry to go back to work, “We have made passionate appeal to them, we are still appealing with them and we will try to see that we reach some of their demands”
The minister said “the issue we have can only be resolved with dialogue we have to the best of abilities to dialogue and move our health sector forward”
“The strike is putting a lot of stress in the system and putting Nigeria at risk, though we have contained Ebola, we are still at risk, now that the health workers are on strike any outbreak will be disastrous for us in this country, we should have the interest of Nigerians at heart and come back to work” Alhassan pleaded
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) commenced an indefinite strike on the 12th of November 2014. The Union last week 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 honorary consultants in teaching hospitals. They are also agitating for appointment of more hospital based consultants.
