Nigerian health workers suspend strike

The three-day warning strike embarked upon by members of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU has been called off and normal activities have returned to the various health facilities nationwide except the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos where health workers are still at loggerheads with the institution’s management.


Chairman, Federal Area Council, Lagos, Mr. Stephen Ibe told Vanguard newspaper the three-day warning strike was 100 per cent successful.

He said: “We are happy that the strike was 100 per cent successful because all the hospitals and agencies were under lock and key.

“We coordinated all the hospitals and agencies and all the workers complied. They quietly went home. It was a peaceful protest to let the government to know that we were ready to stay for more days if they fail to implement the already signed agreement.

“Most of the workers were asking that we embark on an indefinite strike immediately after the expiration of the 14 days period we earlier gave to the government.”

Asked if the meeting held with the government was successful, Ibe explained that the union was tired of entering into any new agreement.

“We don’t want to believe in any new agreement again. All we want is for the government to implement the circular (skipping of CONHESS 10) as they did for the doctors and the agreement already signed by both parties should be implemented.”

He sympathized with families and relatives of patients who lost their lives during the strike; according to him, the Nigerian government should be held responsible for the deaths.