IN less than 12 hours after the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU and Assembly of Health Care Professionals announced the suspension ‘in principle’ of the two week old nationwide strike it embarked upon after a seven hour meeting with the Federal Government Negotiation Team on Saturday, the leadership of JOHESU, Sunday said that the industrial action continues “technically” until Federal Government releases the circulars tomorrow (Tuesday) on some of the agreed items.
The National President of JOHESU, Comrade Josiah Joy Biobelemoye while briefing journalists in Abuja, said that the union was expecting five circulars to be issued by the Federal Ministry of Health latest tomorrow in line with agreement reached by the parties at the conciliatory meeting that was chaired by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni. The expected circulars are on: implementation of internship training to be issued within one week; upward adjustment of CONHESS salary scale to be issued within five weeks; circular on skipping of CONHESS 10; circular on Same Scale Promotion to be issued within one week; and Federal Ministry of Health should ensure that the office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation circularize the amended scheme of service for Nurses and other professionals within one week.
The JOHESU National Chairman after its enlarged National Executive Council, NEC, comprising leaders of various affiliate unions, said that the strike could only be called off if three out of the five affiliate unions vote in support of the agreement signed with Federal Government. He affirmed that Federal Government has commenced the payment of promotion arrears to beneficiaries in various institutions, hence called on members to report status of payments in their respective health institutions to their various parent unions for collation and necessary follow-up. He further said that additional demands will be considered by a special standing committee to be set up by the Federal Government.
The demands include that. “The FMoH should ensure that the OHCSF (Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation) circularizes the amended Scheme of Service for Nurses and other professionals within one week. “Teaching Allowances for Nurses and health workers from CONHESS 7 and above taking teaching duties. Shortfall of Call Duty Allowances as per last review of Call Duty Allowances for Nurses and other health workers taking Call Duties.” He admitted that the strike was still on technically and that its delegation at the conciliatory meeting with government resolved to suspend the strike in principle considering the commitment so far demonstrated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige as well as the Minister of State, Prof. Stephen Ocheni.
He further explained that JOHESU’s decision to refer the agreement to NEC of the affiliate unions was based on laid down principles, adding that the JOHESU NEC lacks the power to suspend or call off strike at the venue of the negotiation, “even if you have met all the conditions.” He maintained that copies of the five circulars to be issued by Federal Ministry of Health will be presented to the NEC of the five affiliate unions and that the commitments shown by Federal Government’ negotiation team to ensure that the strike did not continue was insufficient to suspend the strike.
Vanguard
