The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, AHPA has issued a fifteen-day ultimatum to the federal government, directing members to begin mobilising for a strike at the expiration of the notice on October 25, 2024.
The strike notice which begins from October 10, 2024, is contained in a communique released at the end of its emergency national executive Council meeting and in a letter to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with copies to the Federal Ministry of labour and Employment and related offices.
The documents which were signed by JOHESU National Chairman, Kabiru Ado and National secretary, Martin Egbanubi said various engagements with the Federal Government and governments at sub-national levels since the suspension of JOHESU nationwide strike on June 5, 2023, have failed to yield the desired results.
One of the major demands is, implementation of the Technical Committee report on the adjusted
Consolidated Health Salary Strúcture, CONHESS, which has been a subject of dispute since 2014.
JOHESU is demanding for the immediate payment of 25 % CONHESS Review arrears; June to December,
2023, the Immediate payment of nine months’ January to September 2024 salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies and the immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council.
JOHESU is also demanding for the Immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institution and commencement of the process for upward review of retirement age ofhealth workers, as well as the immediate payment of COVID 19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers.
Meanwhile, the health workers are commending the federal government on the progress made so far on other issues in dispute such as: the pharmacist consultancy status and granting the earlier appeal by JOHESU on electricity tariff waiver for tertiary health institutions through President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive on fifty per cent waiver.
