Health Workers Suspend Strike, Give Fresh 25 Days Notice

By Uche Mbah

The Joint Health Sectors Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, rose from a joint meeting late Friday, and suspended their planned strike billed to commence on 12am Saturday, September 18, 2021.

The Unions had, earlier this month, threatened to embark on an indefinite strike action over breaches in the agreements, issuing a 15-day ultimatum to the FG.

In a Communiqué signed by the Acting National General Secretary, JOHESU, Mathew Ajorutu, the Health workers said the appeal of President Muhammadu Buhari, who pledged to pay all outstanding debts owed the union, will not be ignored.

The NEC, which was expanded to include the Presidents and General Secretaries of affiliate unions and professional associations, NEC members of affiliated unions and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at the State and Branch levels, said it has looked at the progress of the negotiations with government since notice of strike was issued September 2.

The communique read art:

“NEC-in-Session after long hours of exhaustive 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 a high-level-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.”

According to the Union, the FG should reciprocate “the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to expeditiously resolve all the demands within the 15 days 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.