The Federal Government has been given a 15-day ultimatum to execute demands by healthcare workers affiliated with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals. The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria are among the JOHESU employees.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, Research Institutions and Associated Institutions, and Teaching Hospitals are the others. The ultimatum was sent in a memo that Mr. Kabir Minjibir, National President of JOHESU, and Mr. Martin Engbanubi, Secretary of the union, both signed. On Thursday in Abuja, the note was delivered to Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Minjibir declared that if the Federal Government did not address its outstanding welfare issues, the union would launch a nationwide walkout within the next fifteen days. He claims that JOHESU is forced to issue a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, which will take effect on Thursday.
According to him, the union also notified the minister that starting at midnight on Friday, October 25, its members will go on strike. “A seven-day strike by all of our members working at Federal Health Institutions is planned.” “Sir, you would concur with us that JOHESU has consistently shown patriotism, maturity, and selflessness.
Even in the face of severe provocations and the protracted inaction on the part of the government to address the requests of workers under JOHESU, we believe that our patriotism and maturity have been overlooked. “This 15-day ultimatum is necessary because, in spite of our kindness, the Federal Government has not responded to the plight of our members,” he stated.
He recalled how the unions had gone on a statewide strike from May 19 to June 6, 2023, due to some unresolved concerns, but the strike was put off as a result of President Bola Tinubu’s involvement. The Consolidated Health Salary Structure has been adjusted, as has been the case with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure since January 2, 2014, according to the unions’ list of concerns.
“In addition, a consultant cadre for chemists in Federal Health Institutions is being implemented, and the retirement age for health workers has been raised from 60 to 65 years to 70 years,” stated. “Among the remaining requests, he added, were the payment of JOHESU members’ dues in professional regulatory bodies, the settlement of CONHESS review arrears, and the exemption from paying taxes on healthcare workers’ allowances.
“We further demand that the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency’s planned establishment and operations be immediately suspended, as well as the prompt payment of COVID-19 enticement hazard allowances to excluded health workers.
“The Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures are also being demanded to be withdrawn,” he stated. According to Minjibir, the unions asked that the CONHESS adjustment be put into effect right now and that the 25% of arrears from the CONHESS review be paid immediately.
He also demanded that the Environmental Health Regulatory Council’s funding be restored immediately and that regulatory agency employees receive their nine months’ overdue pay cheques.
