Members of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have threatened to commence nationwide strike on April 17, 2017 over alleged delay by the federal government to honour the various agreements entered into with the group since 2009, particularly the September 2017 agreement which had an implementation timeframe of five weeks.
The aggrieved group issued the threat on Monday at a sensitization and mobilization meeting held with its members nationwide at the premises of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH. The group admonished members to brace up for the tough time ahead stressing that even if government adopt the no work, no pay policy, the action would be sustained until all their demands are met.
The Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Ogbonna Obinna who addressed the members said since no one forced the government to enter into the agreement, it was incumbent on them to keep their part of the deal since they have diligently observed theirs.
“The essence of this mobilization and sensitization is to call the attention of the government to our lingering issues on their table, in 2009, there was a collective bargaining agreement with government but issues raised are not seriously addressed, in 2012, the federal government gave full assurance our issues would be attended to, the story did not changed in 2014 and in 2017.
“The issues we raised were supposed to be addressed within five weeks but till now, nothing has been done. We had earlier issued a 30 working days ultimatum from March 5, 2018 and it will expire on the 17th of April, 2018. If by that date nothing concrete is done, we shall embark on total strike from the federal to the local government.
“The issue of no work, no pay will not work; we are sensitizing citizens to understand with us as we will be withdrawing our services if the federal government fails to meet our demands which include: Upward adjustment of CONHESS scale, skipping of CONHESS 10, specialist allowance, same scale promotion, internship, employment of additional health professionals, implementation of court judgments, enhanced entry point, upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65years.
“The highlight of the issues is that of the adjusted CONHESS; it has been done for the medical practitioners, they adjusted theirs on the 3rd January, 2014, and immediately two months arrears was proposed and paid to them to pacify them, the remaining ten months was paid in 2015; they are done with theirs, but ours is still lingering.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of JUTH, Prof. Edmund Banwat who received the leadership of JOHESU appealed to them to exercise patience as medical activities must not be equated with others because of the involvement of human lives.
