Health workers walk out as FMOH boycotts meeting

Four groups of health workers at the Federal Government-run health institutions go on strike from midnight Wednesday to protest the health ministry’s failure to implement agreements. The workers under Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU), an umbrella body for nurses, midwives, pharmacists, technicians and other cadre, will completely abandon work indefinitely at all tertiary health institutions, […]

Four groups of health workers at the Federal Government-run health institutions go on strike from midnight Wednesday to protest the health ministry’s failure to implement agreements.

The workers under Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU), an umbrella body for nurses, midwives, pharmacists, technicians and other cadre, will completely abandon work indefinitely at all tertiary health institutions, union officials told Daily Trust.

Workers at health institutions run at state and local government levels are expected to join the industrial strike in one week if government fails to consider their demands by August 28, said JOHESU chairman Dr Ayuba Wabba.

The strike comes after a 21-day ultimatum issued by JOHESU to compel the health ministry to implement agreements reached by both parties and recent rulings by the National Industrial Court.

The union said the health minister failed to attend an August 19 meeting called by the Labour minister and also did not send a representative.

The union called for the removal of Onyebuchi Chukwu as health minister, but said it “sincerely apologised” for the inconveniences its coming strike would cause Nigerians.

JOHESU has been in contention with the ministry over claims of bias in favour of doctors, contents of the National Health Bill that point to the headship of tertiary health institutions as well as administrative related to harmonisation in the health sector.