Representatives of the Joint Health Workers’ Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (AHPA) yesterday met with the Federal Government to resolve the ongoing strike.
Lafiya360 reports that aside from the health workers’ unions, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health were present at the conciliatory meeting which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, in the absence of the Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige.
It can be recalled that on May 25, 2023, health workers under the aegis of JOHESU and AHPA embarked on an indefinite strike following the failure of the government to address their sundry demands.
A conciliatory meeting was, however, called by the Federal Ministry of Health last week Thursday to address the issues. The meeting ended in deadlock, as the striking health workers accused the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, of being biased. Therefore, it was agreed that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment should be the conciliatory.
After the meeting with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment yesterday, the unions stated that they would revert to their National Executive Councils (NECs) for further consultations, and possible decisions for their next line of action.
The National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna explained that the meeting with the government started at noon and lingered till late in the evening. He said, “Consultations are on at the moment. By tomorrow (Friday), we will get more details. We had a meeting with the government, but we have to revert to our National Executive Council (NEC) organ of our union, for us to get back to the government.”
The JOHESU and AHPA, which comprise healthcare workers, excluding medical doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives, complained about the unfair treatment and discrimination of its members by the Federal Ministry of Health, with regards to their welfare, including wages and benefit packages, among others.
Their demands includes the immediate approval and implementation of the Technical Committee report on Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment by the Federal Government; payment and inculcation of peculiar allowances to health workers under the aegis of JOHESU/AHPA; immediate payment of the omission and Shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in the Federal Health Institutions and recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities in the payment of new hazard allowance.
Others are: the immediate and unconditional implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant cadre, unconditional payment of all withheld salaries of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and April and May, 2018 salaries of members at NOFIC, Azare; and the speedy implementation of the increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years, and 70 years for Consultants in the health professions.
Lafiya360 reports that the strike by the health workers continues to cause major health services disruptions across the country, with doctors, nurses getting overwhelmed. Also, the number of patients that can be attended to at any given time has dropped by more than 50 per cent as a result of inadequate manpower.
Stakeholders in the health sector have urged the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring his expertise to bear to address the menacing strike, as many Nigerians are suffering and in pains, while some have lost their lives.