The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU) has announced the termination of its nationwide warning strike and instructed all members to return to work effective today.
Reports indicate that JOHESU initiated a seven-day warning strike that began at midnight last Friday, following a fifteen-day notice given to the Federal Government regarding long-standing grievances affecting its members across the country.
During a press conference held in Abuja, Kabiru Minjibir, the national chairman of JOHESU, elaborated on the union’s demands. Among these demands is a call for significant adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, which they want to mirror the adjustments made to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure on January 2, 2014.
In addition to this, the union is seeking a 25 percent review of arrears that have accumulated from June to December 2023.
The union is also advocating for several other important changes, including an increase in the retirement age for health workers, tax exemptions on allowances for healthcare personnel, and the prompt distribution of COVID-19 hazard allowances.[/p>
In a statement released on Thursday, which was signed by both Kabiru Minjibir and Martin Egbanubi, the national secretary, the organization confirmed the official suspension of the strike, which took effect at midnight on October 31, 2024.
Minjibir explained that this decision was made following a hybrid emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council (NEC) of JOHESU.[/p>
The statement further emphasized that the federal government has been allotted a six-week period to fulfill all obligations stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established with the union.[/p>
“NEC-in-session, after extensive deliberations, resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike would be effective from midnight, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in consideration of the general public interest,” the statement read.[/p>
“A timeline of six weeks was granted to the federal government to meet all its obligations contained in the MoU.”[/p>
The statement continued: “An expanded NEC meeting shall be convened upon the expiration of the six (6) weeks’ deadlines to review developments and make appropriate decisions.”[/p>
Moreover, the association stated that if the expanded NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the federal government’s adherence to the MoU obligations, they would pursue an “indefinite strike action.”[/p>