Health workers demand improved welfare
ABUJA- Despite the intervention of the minister of health appeal to put an hold of the nationwide strike action, the aggrieved health Joint Staff Union have ignored and commenced the strike action Thursday morning.
The union is asking for improved workers welfare/condition for its members, said Olusegun Sotiloye Chairman, Nigeria University Allied Health Professionals, University who doubles as the chairman, Deputy President south, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals.
The strike commenced in the early hours of Thursday, the union, whose membership includes other hospital workers apart from doctors.
The strike is coming a few days after the National Association of Resident Doctors called off its ten days national industrial action that crippled health activities at both secondary and tertiary health institutions
The chairman, University College Hospital, UCH, JOHESU chapter, who also doubles as Deputy President south, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, Olusegun Sotiloye, said the strike is indefinite until the government attends to the conditions given which include payment of arrears of salaries owned their members, among other requests.
Mr. Sotiloye noted that the association is going ahead with the strike despite the minister’s plea.
According to him “His pleading does not hold any water, the government should issue circulars to direct or show that all the outstanding arrears or salaries would be paid. This is not the first time they have been pleading. If they have been serious about resolving it they would at least we gave them thirty seven days ultimatum,” he said.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, in his response expressed shock and surprise at the association’s position on embarking on strike in spite of the series of meeting the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment held with the leadership of JOHESU.
However, Mr. Adewole said that the government had met some of the demands, including payment of promotion arrears that pre-dated the Muhammad Buhari administration.
He said government would look into other issues raised by JOHESU are still and deliberate on them with the leadership of the Union.
