…As JOHESU appeals court order, insists on strike

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has appealed an Order of Interim Injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (NIC), compelling it to immediately resume duties. Addressing an emergency news conference on behalf of the national body of JOHESU in Abuja on Saturday, Dr Godwin Okara, said JOHESU had filed Court Processes before the Court […]

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has appealed an Order of Interim Injunction granted by the National Industrial Court (NIC), compelling it to immediately resume duties.

Addressing an emergency news conference on behalf of the national body of JOHESU in Abuja on Saturday, Dr Godwin Okara, said JOHESU had filed Court Processes before the Court of Appeal on May 21, challenging the locus standi of the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, an NGO, and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

He said the union only received the court order at 5:39p.m. on Friday (May 25).

“An Order of Interim Injunction compelling JOHESU to immediately resume duties was just served on JOHESU at 5:39p.m. on Friday May 25.

“We have the greatest respect and regard for the Judiciary of our country Nigeria.

“It has always proved to be the bulwark of our democracy, the last hope of the common man and the flagship of the vanguard for law and order in human society,” he said.

Okara described the suit as a calculated attempt by the Federal Ministry of Health and the NGO to demonise JOHESU through sustained misinformation and falsehood.

The JOHESU official explained that the briefing was aimed at updating the media and the general public on the latest developments affecting the industrial action.

He explained that the union decided to seek legal redress when it noticed that there was an intention by the parties to tarnish the image of its members in the media when they have not received any court order.

“JOHESU had before the receipt of this Court Order filed Court Processes in the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal on May 21, 2018, challenging the locus standi of the NGO and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

“The move is a follow up to the calculated attempt to demonise JOHESU through sustained misinformation and falsehood by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, an NGO, which is neither our employer nor a party to the agreement JOHESU signed with government.

“The NGO has constituted itself into a meddlesome interloper,” Okara said.

NIC had on May 17 ordered striking members of JOHESU to suspend its ongoing strike, and resume work nationwide within 24 hours.

Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President of the NIC, gave the order after listening to the submissions of Mr Okere Nnamdi, in an ex-parte motion filed by the NGO, Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International.

The NGO in the motion prayed the court to order the workers to restore normal healthcare services and go back to negotiation table.