The leadership of health workers under the platform of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has decided to embark on a nationwide strike commencing from midnight of Sunday, 13 September 2020.
The group has instructed its members throughout Nigeria to withdraw their services from midnight of Sunday, due to the Federal Government’s inability to meet its demands.
The resolution was made at the end of an expanded emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, where a notice of resolution was addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, saying nothing concrete was agreed at the 10-hour long meeting brokered by the Minister.
JOHESU has, therefore, directed its members to down tools for seven days in the first instance from midnight today
The statement from the JOHESU chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah stated: “In the light of the above, the meeting of our expanded NEC was held Saturday 12 September, 2020. And at the end of the meeting, which was held both physically and virtually, it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive.
“Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists and with effect from midnight of Sunday, 13th September, 2020 our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands.”
The strike by JOSEHU is coming about a week after the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) suspended its strike amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The JOHESU leadership stated that there is discrimination against its members in the implementation of the newly approved inducement and hazard allowances for medical workers. The association was also protesting among other issues, the alleged withheld salaries of its members.
