Health workers represented by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA) have officially announced the suspension of their seven-day warning strike, effective from midnight on October 31. This decision was made in alignment with the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in consideration of the general public’s interest.
The National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr. Kabiru Minjibir, shared this development through a communiqué that was jointly signed by Mr. Martin Egbanubi, the National Secretary of the union, during a briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
It is important to note that JOHESU had initiated the warning strike on October 25 to highlight their demands from the Federal Government. The decision to suspend the strike came after an emergency meeting held by the Expanded National Executive Council (NEC) of the union. This expanded NEC is comprised of the Presidents and General Secretaries of JOHESU’s affiliate unions and professional associations, as well as members of the NEC from these affiliate unions, and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at both state and branch levels.
The communiqué outlined that the NEC-in-Session thoroughly reviewed various reports and the MoU signed between representatives from JOHESU and the Federal Government during a conciliation meeting that took place on October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. After extensive deliberations, the NEC reached a consensus to suspend the warning strike in a bid to promote the principles of the MoU and to prioritize public interest.
Additionally, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government has been given a six-week timeframe to fulfill its obligations as outlined in the MoU. An Expanded NEC meeting will be convened once this six-week period expires to evaluate the developments and make necessary decisions moving forward.
The communiqué further indicated that if the responses from the Federal Government regarding the implementation of its obligations are unsatisfactory, an indefinite strike action will be considered as the next course of action.
Among the key demands put forth by the unions are the immediate implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment, the payment of 25 percent of the CONHESS review arrears, and the payment of nine months’ salary to staff of regulatory agencies. Additional demands include the restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, the reconstitution of the Boards and Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions, and the initiation of discussions aimed at increasing the retirement age for health workers, among other issues.
