Crisis looms as health workers begin indefinite strike Friday

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has asked its members to embark on
an indefinite strike.

According to PUNCH,
Obinna Ogbonna, national vice-president of JOHESU, gave the directive on
Thursday at a press briefing in Abuja.

“It becomes imperative to inform
you that since the federal government is yet to meet these demands, our members
have been directed by the JOHESU National Executive Council to proceed on an
indefinite strike action upon expiration of the ultimatum by midnight of May
25, 2023,” he said.

In a letter dated May 9, 2023,
the leadership of JOHESU had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal
government over alleged inconsistencies in the ongoing negotiations to adjust
the consolidated health salary structure.

The union said the federal
government has a penchant for shifting from agreed terms and rules of
engagement relating to non-discrimination in the determination of wages and
benefit packages of health workers.

JOHESU called for the adjustment
of the health salary structure as agreed in the terms of the settlement of
September 2017.

The union also asked for the
payment of peculiar allowance to health workers.

Other demands include, “payment
of all withheld salaries of our members in Federal Medical Center in Owerri,
Jos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and their
withheld April and May 2018 Salaries; speedy adjustment of retirement age from
60 – 65 years and the exclusion of some health workers in the payment of new
hazard allowance as well as payment of COVID-19 allowance balance”.