Health workers mobilise for strike over pay rise, others

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has began mobilisation in the North Central to withdraw services from all federal hospitals on April 17, should  the Federal Government fail to honour the  agreement reached with the union in September, 2017. The leadership of the state branches of JOHESU and the national body converged at the Jos […]

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has began mobilisation in the North Central to withdraw services from all federal hospitals on April 17, should  the Federal Government fail to honour the  agreement reached with the union in September, 2017.

The leadership of the state branches of JOHESU and the national body converged at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to kick-start the sensitisation and mobilisation in the North Central after a meeting with the management of the hospital.

National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Ogbonna Obinna Chimela, said JUTH was the pivotal centre to reach out to other centres in the North Central. 

Dr. Chimela, therefore, urged the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Edmund Banwat, to take their demands to the Federal Government.  

Chimela, who is also the National President of the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government failed to meet the demands reached with the union in 2017 despite assurance that its demands would be met after five weeks. 

He said some of the issues not fully attended to included promotion of members, review of retirement age from 60 to 65, upward adjustment of CONHESS salary scale and promotion arrears from 2012 to date. 

Chief Medical Director of JUTH, Prof. Edmund Banwat, however, urged the union to exercise patience with the Federal Government, stressing that, “Unionism in the health sector should not be equated with other sectors because it deals with life. Continuous engagement is the way of life and confrontation should always be a last resort.”