The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) will start a seven-day warning strike at midnight on Friday.
Jack Lampang, JOHESU’s media consultant, disclosed this to FIJ on Friday.
FIJ earlier reported that JOHESU gave the federal government a 15-day ultimatum, starting from October 10, to address the pending welfare issue of health workers across the country.
READ ALSO: Joint Health Unions Set to Strike Over Owed COVID-19 Allowances, Tax Waivers
JOHESU comprises five groups, including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).
The union stated it would embark on a seven-day warning strike should the government fail to address its demands. But Lampang told FIJ that the union had not heard from the government between October 10 and Friday.
“The warning strike is starting today [Friday] by midnight,” the JOHESU media consultant told FIJ.
Some of the demands of the joint health unions include the unpaid COVID-19 hazard allowances to some health workers and a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances.
The joint unions are equally asking the government to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), pay the outstanding 25% review arrears of workers, settle nine months’ salary (January–September 2024) owed to staff in Regulatory Agencies, restore funding for the Environmental Health Regulatory Council and reconstitute the Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs).
READ ALSO: ‘Pay Us Our Arrears’ — FMC Interns Protest 11 Months of Unpaid Hazard Allowance
Some of their demands further require the FG to commence the upward review of the retirement age of health workers, implement a consultant cadre for pharmacists in FHIs and pay JOHESU members in professional regulatory councils.
Furthermore, they are seeking the immediate suspension of plans to establish the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA), the withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures (DRF SOP) and the approval of entry point, call duty and other allowances for Doctor of Pharmacy holders.
FIJ sent an email to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Friday regarding the planned strike and the demands of the joint unions, but no response had been received at press time.
When FIJ called Alaba Balogun, the head of media and public relations for the ministry, he initially said that he would provide feedback later. Balogun then asked the reporter to send the inquiry via WhatsApp, which was done minutes later.
Meanwhile, checks by FIJ show that it’s been at least six months since the federal government met with the joint health unions. The Federal Ministry of Health met with JOHESU on April 25 to discuss pressing issues in the health sector.
Muhammad Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said, “We acknowledge and thank you for sharing pertinent concerns regarding pay grade adjustments, the state of the health workforce, outstanding arrears, and the establishment of timelines for forming boards at tertiary health institutions. In line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for improved health outcomes for all Nigerians, and the core role of JOHESU, we value and are committed to sustaining the cordial and trusting relationship we have developed since this administration.”
Also, on April 28, Pate promised to initiate a process to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for JOHESU, which is part of their demands.
Six months later, the government has yet to resolve the outstanding issues with JOHESU.
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