Another strike looms in health sector as JOHESU tables demand

Angered by the Federal Government approval of N4 Billion to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), despite appealing to them to put on hold their legitimate demands until after the pandemic due to paucity of funds, the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), has said that it can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the sector in the face of glaring discrimination against its members. 

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As contained in separate letters addressed to the Minister of Health and obtained by Daily Times, JOHESU said those demands can no longer be put on hold as the government recent approval of N4 Billion to NARD has made the excuse of lack of funds no longer saleable to its restive members. 
The JOHESU National Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah, in the letter called on the Minister of Health to extend same kind gesture to the Union by fulfilling all their demands as agreed on June 8.
“We have just been reliably informed that the Federal Government has released N4Billion  for the payment of 2017 Internship allowance to members of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). 
“We wish to use this medium to request the Minister to use his good offices to extend this same gesture for the training of other health workers who are on Internship, like Pharmacists, Nurses, Medical Laboratory Scientist, etc. 
“The Federal Governments approval of N4Billion to meet NARD demands has further made naked the classification of JOHESU as second class citizens and this singular action has further put JOHESU leadership under extreme and intense pressure from our members. The elasticity of our members is at break point and we can no longer guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the Health Sector because our members are restive since the Federal Government approval to NARD. 
“Arising from the forgoing, the issues put on hold until post COVID-19 pandemic is no longer tenable nor saleabla to our restive members in the face of glaring discrimination by the Federal Ministry of Health, which always plead with JOHESU for understanding due to paucity of funds.”
Chief among their demands for immediate implementation includes; “Immediate payment of COVID-19 special Incentives, Hazard/inducement allowance for April and May, 2020 while June, 2020 Will be paid by the end of June. 
“Immediate Implementation of COVID-19 Insurance cover for all health workers for the first twelve (12) months. 
“Compensation for deceased, deformed, and incapacitated health workers in accordance with the Employees Compensation Act (ECA). 
“Retention of the existing hazard allowance of N5,000 per month as an addmon to the specml COVID-19 Incentives. However, promises were consideration of upward review of the present meagre Hazard Allowance before the end of the 6 months COVID-l9 emergency. 
“Payment of April/May, 2018 and other withheId salaries such as that of FMC, Owerri, LUTH & JUTH etc shall be considered immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. 
“It was also resolved that health workers who are currently due for retirement have been granted 3 months extension of service in the first instance so as to prevent shortage of manpower during this COVID-19 pandemic. 
“The Federal Ministry of Health was directed to issue an advisory to State Governors to do same to health workers in their employ.”
For emphasis, some of JOHESU’s demand  that have not been attended to include:  “Non provisions of PPE to our members on the frontline. Non adjustment of CONHESS salary since 2014. Non recognition of our members as consultant and payment of Specialist Allowance. Non implementation of various court judgements.
“Non implementation of 2017 collectively bargained agreement. Non payment of uniform allowance to some of our members. Non promotion of our members to CONHESS 15 as Director.”