The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, comprising five registered health workers unions, yesterday issued a fresh twoweek ultimatum to the Federal Government and threatened to proceed on strike if their demands were not met.
JOHESU gave the warning consequent upon alleged government’s refusal to sign an agreement, which would have addressed issues of perceived marginalisation that had pitched the unions and government against each other for years.
The leadership of the unions, speaking at a briefing in Abuja through the National President of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, Mr. Felix Faniran, said government refused to sign the agreement for the fear the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, would oppose the treaty.
Other unions constituting JOHESU are the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MHWUN; National Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAI; Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and Assembly of Health Professionals.
Some of the demands according to the group are: reconstitution of boards of management of tertiary health institutions; promotion of members from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors; increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years; implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Report and implementation of Abdullahi Bello Presidential Committee report on harmony in the health sector.
JOHESU accused the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, of discriminating against its members and giving preference to the NMA, which it emphasised was an illegal body and had no legal right to proceed on strike like a trade union.
“JOHESU, after repeated appeals commenced negotiations with government since September, 2013 but to our greatest shock and amazement, government in a volte face yesterday said it was unable to sign and honour the collective bargained issues because of the threat by the NMA to proceed on strike if government accedes to our legitimate demands and painstakingly negotiated entitlements.
“We had negotiated desirable adjustment to the 2009 CONHESS Salary Table and allowances as was done for the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA in January 2014.
“Our members are being subjected to discrimination and industrial marginalisation in the health sector in favour of members of the Nigerian Medical Association, which is operating illegally as if it were a registered trade union.
“Without fear or favour, it must be said that the Honourable Minister of Health must be blamed for the pending industrial action by the JOHESU/AHP.
Efforts by to speak with Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, on the allegation were unsuccessful as he did not respond to telephone call made to him.