The Joint Health Sectors Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have suspended their planned strike billed to commence with effect from 12am Saturday, September 18,2021.

The unions had on September 2 threatened to embark on strike over unmet demands and also issued a 15-day ultimatum to the FG.

But rising from the emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council of the JOHESU and AHPA on Friday, the unions admonished the Federal Government to expedite action and fulfil their demands within 15 days.

This was contained in a communique signed by the acting Secretary General, JOHESU, Chief M. Ajorutu, issued at the end of the meeting.

The expanded NEC comprised the presidents and general secretaries of affiliate unions and professional associations, NEC members of affiliate unions and JOHESU chairmen and secretaries at the state and branch levels.

The NEC-in-session said it critically appraised the reports of JOHESU negotiation and conciliation meetings with FG since the declaration of the trade dispute through the 15-day strike notice issued on September 2.

NEC also noted the appeal from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the need to show understanding with his administration and his pledge to pay any debt owed health workers.

It further said it received and examined reports of congresses held at various health facilities across the country on the mobilisation for the strike action.

The communique read, “NEC-in-session after long hours of exhaustive of deliberations on issues surrounding the planned strike action resolved as follows:

“The Federal Ministry of Health should ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during negotiation meetings.

“The Federal Government should ensure that the new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure for JOHESU members be completed and submitted to the ‘high level body’ of the FG not later than Wednesday, 22nd September, 2021 as agreed.

“NEC-in-Session urges the Federal Government to ensure that the ‘high level body’ complete and submit the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget within the 30th September, 2021 submission window.”

The union further urged the government to reciprocate “the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to expeditiously resolve all the demands within the 15-day window.”

“Finally, NEC-in-session unanimously adopts a resolution to step down the notice of strike action due to expire mid-night 17th September, 2021 and issue a fresh notice of 15 days,” the unions said.