Joint Health Sector Unions threaten industrial action
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), has issued a stringent warning that it would embark on a nationwide strike action by September 13 if the Federal Government fails to address its demands.
The group also asked for the replacement of Senator Chris Ngige on the negotiating team, accusing the minister of exhibiting elements of bias during negotiations with the government.
The group held that as a medical practitioner, the Minister of Labour and Employment was too invested in the situation and as such could not be trusted to eliminate his personal prejudice in his judgment.
It argued that while the FG has addressed the concerns of the medical doctors, it had been unwilling or unable to resolve the demands of the other health workers.
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Speaking with the representatives of the various allies and chapters of JOHESU, the National Chairman, Comrade Bio Joy Josiah, said the union had been quiet for far too long and would no longer condone the less than ideal circumstances they have had to endure.
He listed some of the demands which include, non-payment of outstanding welfare packages and review of the implementation of covid-19 special inducement and hazard allowance.
“It becomes imperative to inform you that if the federal government does not meet these demands by midnight of September 13, 2020, JOHESU will have no choice than to commence a nationwide 7-day warning strike of health workers in federal institutions.
“We had withheld action on embarking on industrial action despite provocative stance of federal government due to the rampaging novel virus in the globe,” he said.
He said the reason the Union had decided not to embark on strike action had been informed by their concern for the well-being of Nigerians.
He further stated that the industrial action had become necessary because the union had realized that they would have to force the issue to prompt the federal government to action.
