Health Workers Down Tools As Negotiation With FG Collapses |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Following the inability to reach agreement with the Federal Government, the Joint Health Sector Unions, an umbrella body of health workers in Nigeria, has declared a nationwide strike.

The strike is expected to kick-start as from midnight, according to JOHESU, which, in a statement has asked its members to withdraw services.

Titled ‘Notice of 15-day ultimatum/outcome of JOHESU expanded NEC meeting’ the statement explained that the strike remains the only way to press home members’ demands.

The leadership of the health workers had on Friday met with the Federal Government on the industrial action

During the meeting, the unions demanded to consult its members on the agreements reached with the federal government and report back to the Ministry of Labour by Saturday, September 12.

But in the statement on Sunday, the health workers said the strike would hold as planned, noting that it was necessitated by the inability of the Federal Government to meet its demands.

The national leader of JOHESU, Biobelemoye Josiah, also confirmed the commencement of the industrial action.

According to the statement, leaders of various health unions in the sector unanimously reached the decision at the end of their expanded National Executive Council.

“In the light of the above, the meeting of our expanded NEC was held Saturday 12 September, 2020. And at the end of the meeting, which was held both physically and virtually, it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive.

“Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists and with effect from midnight of Sunday, 13th September, 2020 our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands,” the statement added.

The health workers had issued a 15-day strike notice to the Federal Government to press home their demands.