ABUJA – Health workers and other
professionals in the health sector,
under the auspices of Joint Heath
Sector Unions, JOHESU, yesterday
declared an indefinite nationwide strike
after their meeting with the Federal
Government ended in a deadlock in
Abuja.
Addressing newsmen after rising from
the failed meeting, the National
Coordinator of JOHESU, Comrade
Faniran Felix Olukayode, who is also
the National President of NUPMTPAM,
directed members of the unions to
begin immediate strike.
Medical and Health Workers’ Union of
Nigeria, MHWUN, JOHESU and Federal
Government representatives, led by the
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Health, Mrs. Fatimo Bamidele, could
not reach an agreement during the
meeting.
Those proceeding on strike include
members of MHWUN, National
Association of Nigeria Nurses and
Midwives; Senior Staff Association of
Universities Teaching Hospitals,
Research Institutes and Associated
Institutions , SSAUTHRAI; Nigeria Union
of Pharmacist, Medical Technologists
and Professions Allied to Medicine,
NUPMTPAM, and Non-Academic Staff
Union of Educational and Associated
Institutions, NASU.
Speaking on behalf of the unions,
Olukayode declared that after the
meeting with the Federal Government
yesterday, there is need to go ahead
with the strike having earlier issued a
15-day ultimatum before the meeting.
According to him, “We are hereby
informing the good people of Nigeria
that having presented our demands to
the Federal Government through
various Health Ministers since 1980 and
especially the past three years without
any serious commitment to meet them,
we have no other option other than to
embark on an indefinite strike to press
home our demands as a last resort.
“However, we sincerely apologize to the
members of the public who are likely to
be hurt by this action. It is due to
circumstances beyond our control.”
The issues in contention according to
the JOHESU National Coordinator are
non-skipping of salary CONHESS 10;
National Health Bill; Presidential
Committee report on harmony in the
health sector; promotion of health
professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15;
consultancy and specialist allowance
and call/shift and other professional
allowances.
Others are request for implementation
of 2008 job evaluation committee
report; re-constitution of board of
managements of teaching and other
tertiary hospitals; need for review of
retirement ages and appointment of
ministers of health.
Comrade Olukayode however, stated
that the unions are still open to
dialogue, adding that if the Federal
Government invites them and consider
their demands they are ready to meet
them.

www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/health-
workers-begin-strike-nationwide/