Health Workers begin strike,demands sack of ministers

The Joint Health Workers' Union on
Tuesday declared an indefinite strike
action in all tertiary health institutions in
the country, beginning from today
(Wednesday).
The action followed the expiration of a 21-
day ultimatum issued to the Minister of
Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, by the
workers.

The workers had asked the minister to
implement the agreement he had reached
with them, which was also ratified by a
recent ruling of the National Industrial
Court.

The strike commences by midnight today,
while health workers in the state and local
government health facilities would join at
midnight of August 28.

The union, while apologising to Nigerians
for the difficulties they might face during
the strike, also called for the immediate
removal of Chukwu, saying he should be
held responsible for the problems in the
sector.

The National President of the union, Dr.
Ayuba Wabba, said, "At a meeting called by
the Minister of Labour and Productivity on
Monday, August 19, 2013, the health
minister or his representative refused to
attend show up.

"Consequently, upon the expiration of the
ultimatum, members of JOHESU in federal
tertiary health institutions were directed to
proceed on an indefinite strike with effect
from midnight of August 21, 2013, while
our members at the state and local
government levels shall join as from
midnight of August 28, 2013.

"While we sincerely apologise the
inconveniences this action may cause
Nigerians, the Minister of Health, Prof.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, should be held
responsible."

Wabba recalled that the labour minister had
referred
some of the contentious issues
that the parties could not agree upon to
the NIC in June, 2012.

They included non-skipping of Salary
CONHESS 10, National Health Bill,
Consultancy and Specialist Allowances and
Call/Shift Duty and other professional
allowances.

"After 13 months of adjudication, the NIC,
in a landmark judgment delivered on
Monday, July 22, 2013, on the dispute
between JOHESU and the Federal Ministry
of Health earlier referred to it by the
Minister of Labour and Productivity, ruled,
among other things, that skipping of
CONHESS 10 is legal and the purported
circular by the Ministry of Health and Head
of Service of the Federation stopping it is
illegal, null, void and of no effect
whatsoever.

"The implication of the above position of
the court is that members would continue
to enjoy skipping of CONHESS 10; that
those earlier appointed as consultants
would continue to enjoy the status with all
the benefits and the withdrawal of their
letters of appointment is irregular, null and
void; and that the issue of shift duty,
administrative non-clinical and call duty
allowances should remain as they are, but
that negotiation should commence
towards an agreement on upward review
of the allowances.

"Also, the NIC held that issues already
agreed upon were accrued rights and
should be implemented without delay, in
line with collective bargaining agreement,"
Wabba explained.
The Minister of Health could not be
reached, as his Special Assistant on Media,
Mr. Dan Nwomeh, promised to respond to
the issues.
However, as of 9pm on Tuesday, he had
yet to do so.

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