Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Allied Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA) have issued a stern warning to the federal government, threatening to embark on an indefinite strike if their demands are not met within the stipulated timeframe.
This ultimatum was contained in a 13-point communiqué released by JOHESU and AHPA, signed by Chairman Ado Kabiru and Secretary Martins Egbanubi on Sunday.
The health workers are demanding the full implementation of the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 29, 2024, which they claim has been delayed for far too long.
“Further delay may lead to industrial unrest,” the communiqué warned. The union is giving the government a limited timeframe to resolve the outstanding issues, including the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which has been pending for eleven years.
JOHESU leadership met with the federal government delegation on December 20, 2024, to discuss the looming strike.
After the meeting, JOHESU resolved to allow the Minister of Labour and Employment to establish fresh mechanisms to resolve the CONHESS challenges within the next few weeks. The union emphasized that this is crucial to guaranteeing industrial harmony in the health sector.
The communiqué also commended the federal government for issuing circulars to establish a consultant pharmacist cadre in Nigeria. However, JOHESU expressed disappointment over the low compliance rate of 15% in eleven out of 73 federal health institutions.
The union demanded that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare invoke sanctions on chief medical directors who fail to implement the Consultant Pharmacists Cadre Circular by March 31, 2025.
JOHESU further called on the coordinating minister of health, Prof Ali Pate, to follow up on the demand for an upward review of the retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for consultants.
The union also commended the government for paying nine months of outstanding salaries to JOHESU members but urged the government to pay the remaining arrears by December 31, 2024.
The health workers have demanded that the next conciliation meeting with the federal government team be fixed for the first week of February 2025.
In the meantime, JOHESU has advised its members to remain calm and await directives regarding industrial action.
With the clock ticking, the federal government has been urged to act swiftly to address the health workers’ demands and prevent a potentially crippling strike.
