FG WILL OBEY COURT DECISION ON
WORKERS' DEMANDS--HEALTH
MINISTER
August 28, 2013 14:28
NAN-HG-3
Implementation
Abuja, Aug. 28, 2013 (NAN) The
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi
Chukwu, said on Wednesday that the
Federal Government would abide by
the judgment of the National
Industrial Court on health workers
demands.
Chukwu made the statement when he
addressed newsmen in Abuja on the
recently suspended health workers’
strike.
He told newsmen that as a
government that had respect for the
rule of law, the Federal Government
had no alternative than to implement
the judgment of the court.
Chukwu told newsmen that “while this
implementation (of the court ruling) is
going on, it does not stop
government from pursuing any other
issues in the court of law.
``But the important thing is that it
gets the workers back to work and
ensures that Nigerians and other
residents within Nigeria and even
visitors are availed of the services of
health care professionals.
``The government has already
indicated and has already filed an
appeal but since there is no definite
court order on stay of execution, we
felt we should go ahead and begin
the implementation,’’ Chukwu said.
He said while the implementations
were going on, the authorities would
continue to negotiate with the health
workers on other areas where
compromise had not been reached,
or where necessary, file an appeal.
Chukwu said the Federal Government
planned a Presidential Committee to
fashion out ways to guarantee a
harmonious relationship between it
and professionals in the health sector.
The minister promised to look into the
protest by the workers that a nurse
was not appointed as the chairman of
Nursing and Midwifery Council of
Nigeria.
`` Even though the law did not
specify that a nurse be appointed,
going by precedence, tradition
fairness and equity, since we have
eligible nurses, who can, indeed be
chairperson or chairman of Nursing
and Midwifery Council, it should be a
nurse,’’ he said.
Justice B.A. Adejumo of NIC had on
July 23 delivered judgment in favour
of the health workers, under the aegis
of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU),
in suit No NICN/ABJ/238/2012, filed
by the workers.
JOHESU wants those earlier appointed
as consultants to continue to enjoy
the status with all benefits and that
the withdrawal of their letters of
appointment be declared irregular,
null and void.
The union also asked that the
consultants be immediately restored
to their positions with full pay and
their arrears paid.
The group also contended that
skipping of Consolidated Health
Workers Salary Scale (CONHESS) 10
was legal and the purported circular
of the Ministry of Health and the Head
of the Civil Service of the Federation
stopping it was illegal, null and void.
The non-implementation of the
judgment led to a nationwide strike
last, which paralysed activities in
Federal Government-owned hospitals.
(NAN)

what i want from government is to proscribe industrial action in health sector expect on non-payment of salaries. other issues should be handled by court.