Nigerian govt given 15 days to avert nationwide health workers' strike

Nigerian health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Professionals Association (AHPA) have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement outstanding agreements it signed with them following which they would go on an indefinite strike. 

 

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the health workers are asking the government to release the circulars that would back the negotiated issues.

On May 10, 2012, there was an agreement between the Federal Ministry of Health and JOHESU over five important issues which are the reconstitution of the boards of tertiary health institutions; promotion of its members from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors; increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years; implementation of the 2008 job evaluation report; implementation of the Abdullahi Bello Presidential Committee Report on Harmony in the Health sector.

They accused the government of reneging on its agreement to please the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). JOHESU said NMA threatened to embark on strike, if the government honoured some of JOHESU’s demands.

Mr. Felix Faniran, the National President of Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), spoke yesterday on behalf of the group. He said the unions had been negotiating with the government for over the issues, adding that the government turned back because of the threat by NMA.