Martins Ifijeh
The Joint Health Sector Union ( JOHESU), a coalition of all allied health
professionals and paramedics in Nigeria, has threatened to abstain from voting
during next month’s general elections if government refused to grant their
demands.
This was made known recently by the Chairman, National Union of Allied and
Health Professionals, Lagos State Chapter and the Publicity Secretary of
JOHESU, Mr. Christian Ikechukwu, during a protest organised by the union at
the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Ikechukwu said the government’s reaction towards the strike, which started on
November 12,2014, has been unfair, “hence, we are again using this medium to
ask the authorities to accede to our demands for which even the court of law
has ruled in our favour.”
He said: “We have directed thousands of our members across the country to
boycott the general election, if the government refused to listen to our cry, so
that the world will know we have been naturally disenfranchised, because of
government’s lackadaisical attitude towards health workers who are saddled
with the responsibilities of saving lives in the country.
“As if government has decided to punish us the more for seeking our legitimate
rights, they granted audience to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) who
asked for salary adjustment. It would interest you to know that government
acceded to their demands and again frustrated us out of the equation.”
He queried why the government has to restrict the adjustment to only doctors
saying, “If there has to be salary adjustments within the health sector, it should
cut across board, because these salary structures were created the same time.
“Now, government is saying the adjustment cannot go across board because
they claim to have minimum resources on ground. But you and I know how
much our government officials spend daily. Even the ones they spend on their
girl friends will be enough to take care of any salary increase within the health
sector.
“We have been marginalised in this country for too long, but we have started
the course, we will not relent until government accedes to our demand,” he
stated.
Also speaking during the protest, the Public Relations Officer, National
Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Yaba branch, Mr.Wale Adegbike
called on all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on government to implement the
ruling of the court,which asked government to grant the demands of the union.
Adegbike, who is also an executive member of JOHESU, explained that the union
is not fighting for a selfish interest, but for the benefit of all.
“We are fighting for professional upliftment. If nothing is done within the coming
weeks, come February 14, all our members across the country will boycott the
elections and other subsequent elections, because the government has
disregarded us,” he said.
JOHESU embarked on the indefinite nationwide strike late last year to press
home its demands which include; non promotion of its members from salary
CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors having stayed for 4 to 15 years on the same
salary level without promotion in most federal tertiary hospitals, immediate
release of circular on adjustment of salary since January 2014 and immediate
payment of at least two months arrears while the remaining is paid after being
accommodated in the 2015 budget.
The union is also demanding for immediate release of the circular on extension
of retirement age to be back dated to February 2014 when the issue was
presented to national council on establishment, immediate and full payment of
arrears of salaries of CONHESS 10 skipping outstanding since the year 2010
and the need to minimizing the lopsidedness in the membership of boards of
management of tertiary hospitals
It is also calling on the federal government to amend the circular on
consultancy status as pronounced by National Industrial Court on July 22, 2013
and agreed to at a meeting of 12th August 2014, with the government as well
as release of harmonized scheme of service for nurses and midwives in line with
the NICN ruling.
Among other demands, the union has now added a new demand, calling on the
government to centralise the salary increase, which has been granted to the
members of the NMA.
JOHESU’s last meeting with the federal government ended in a deadlocked, and
since then its members are yet to resume back to work.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/despite-persistent-strike-johesu-asks-members-to-boycott-elections/200496/

So because JOHESU claim they constitute 90% of the entire health workers, they think that translates to 90% of electorates?
Mehn JOHESU isn't just useless, they flaunt the uselessness..

option 1 , celebrated resident doctors sack
option 2, resorted to strike closed to 3 months
option 3, prayer &fasting and targeted press briefing
option 4, rallies
option 5, assault on doctors on duty Post
option 6, threat to boycott election
option 7, may be the last, waiting to hear that

the people at the top are fighting for their gains and the junior ones sheepishly follow in solidarity. my sister who is a member said she had nothing to gain what is the percentage of JOHESU members in about 50 million potential voters. no retreat no surrender issues are usually bloody.

heykims:
So because JOHESU claim they constitute 90% of the entire health workers, they think that translates to 90% of electorates?
Mehn JOHESU isn't just useless, they flaunt the uselessness..

What is Johesu please ? Is it the name of an insect ?

Oduduwaboy:

What is Johesu please ? Is it the name of an insect ?

No mind them jare, naughty doctor wannabes...

Let them call of this strike. People are tired already.