Address our demands before it’s late, JOHESU tells FG

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have called on the Federal Government to address its demands, noting that the 15-day ultimatum it issued on September 17, 2021, will expire in a few days noting that the unions said government action was necessary to avoid a shutdown of health facilities across the country.

READ ALSO: Strike: JOHESU, AHPA issue 15-day ultimatum to FG

This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by the JOHESU National Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah, titled, ‘We are not strike-mongers, act now on our 15-day fresh strike notice before it is too late.’

While noting the appeal by the President, General Muhammadu Buhari , and his pledge to pay all the debts owed the medical workers, the unions noted that their demands had not been met.

JOHESU reiterated its demands, asking the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during the negotiation meetings.

It reminded the government of its demand that new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure for JOHESU members be completed and submitted to the ‘High Level Body’ of the FG not later than September 22, 2021, as agreed.

The statement reads, “We also urged the Federal Government to ensure that the ‘High Level Body’ complete and submit the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget on or before the 30th of September, 2021 submission window.

“We charged the Federal Government to reciprocate the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to expeditiously resolve all the demands within the fifteen days window.

“We unanimously adopted a resolution to step down the first notice of strike action which expired mid-night 17th September, 2021 and issued a fresh notice of 15 days.

“While we push for better welfare and conditions of service for our members, we urge the federal government to reflect the promises of Mr President in the activities relating to our demands to ensure continuous industrial harmony in the health sector.”

The spokesman, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, said he had no information on the implementation of the demands.