FG, striking health workers locked over failed meeting

Health workers this week withdrew all “skeletal and concessional services” in all healthcare facilities, intensifying the month-old strike called by the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) last month after federal government failed to attend a scheduled meeting between both sides on Monday.The union said key officials of the federal health ministry, from the minister and […]

Health workers this week withdrew all “skeletal and concessional services” in all healthcare facilities, intensifying the month-old strike called by the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) last month after federal government failed to attend a scheduled meeting between both sides on Monday.
The union said key officials of the federal health ministry, from the minister and permanent secretary to directors “were conspicuously absent, thereby stalling the meeting.”
But supervising health minister Dr Khaliru Alhassan rebuffed the union’s claim on Wednesday, insisting, “We have never denied them access.”
He said health workers were “holding government at ransom by denying the public their services” for close to three months.
Thursday morning, at the foreign affairs ministry, he said, “It is sad that there’s a lot of monetisation to what we do. I think we need to change our attitude and give back to the country.”
The ministry’s permanent secretary Linus Awute said prolonged strike with no end in sight disobeyed rules of engagement and showed “impunity”.
But JOHESU said suspension of skeletal services was to ensure total compliance by its members after federal government displayed a “lack of commitment and seriousness.”
JOHESU wants FG to implement agreements reached since 2009 and rulings of the National Industrial Court in its favour.
Two previous meetings since the strike started on November 12 have been without progress,” said JOHESU chairman Ayuba Wabba.
It has also accused government of threatening and intimidating its members, in effect pushing “double standards” different from how government treated doctors who went on strike earlier this year.
Addressing journalists, national president of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), a member of JOHESU, accused the federal government of treating their grievances and demands with disdain and levity, even though they say they constitute 95% of entire workforce in the health industry.