Lagos Health Workers Suspend Strike Temporarily
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has suspended its indefinite strike in Lagos for four weeks, while urging the Lagos State Government to uphold all agreements.
Acting Chairman, NUAHP, Lagos State Public Service, Mr Sode Adegbenro,made the disclosure in an interview.
NUAHP members in Lagos State Public Service cut across health workers in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), all General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
Adegbenro mentioned that the union suspended the indefinite strike for four weeks to allow the state government to actualise the seven demands brought before it by the union.
He, however, noted that the strike would resume after four weeks if the government reneges on implementation of the agreements.
“On May 25, we held a meeting with the representatives of the government at the state Ministry of Establishment, agreements were reached and both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“The union held a congress on May 26 to review the outcome of the meeting and agreements signed with the state government.
“We decided to empathise with the patients and considering the prevailing economic situation of the country, we reached a consensus to suspend the strike for four weeks.
“This is to reduce the stress being experienced by patients who are seeking treatment at various health facilities and to enable the government actualise the agreements within specified timeline.
“The strike was suspended on Monday evening and all our members are back at their duty posts,” he said.
According to him, the government acceded to implement the payment of hazard allowance and its arrears, as well as domestication of the consultancy pharmacy cadre in the next two weeks.
He said the government also agreed to a four-week timeline to implement the remaining five demands presented by the union.
The strike partially disrupted clinical services, especially in LASUTH, as NUAHP members in the tertiary hospital pressed home their demands.
NUAHP had directed its members to begin an indefinite strike nationwide on May 25, due to irreconcilable differences between the union and the Federal Government.
The National leadership of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on May 9 issued a 15-day strike ultimatum through a letter to the federal government.
The union said the ultimatum was over the non-implementation of collectively bargained agreements, especially, the issue of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment as done for CONMESS.
NUAHP then directed states with unresolved trade disputes and outstanding demands to immediately join the strike.
NUAHP members in federal health institutions in Lagos are still on indefinite strike in compliance with the national directive.
NUAHP is an umbrella union for health workers such as Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Medical Laboratory Scientists as well as Optometrists and Radiographers.
Others include Dental Therapists, Medical Physicists, Health Information Managers, Clinical Psychologists and Medical Social Workers.
NAN/Oyenike Oyeniyi
