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Tag: Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU)

  • JOHESU: Lawmaker lauds union for strike suspension

    Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee on Health Services, has commended both the national and state chapters of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) for suspending their strike.

    Olulade gave the commendation in a statement on Friday and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    NAN reports that JOHESU commenced a nationwide indefinite strike on April 18 to protest alleged Federal Government failure to meet its demands.

    The union, whose demands included the adjustment in the Consolidated Health Salary Scheme, however, on Wednesday, agreed to suspended its 44 days old strike on June 1.

    Health sector employees in the state and local governments joined their other JOHESU members in strike on May 11 which paralysed healthcare services in hospitals.

    The Lagos State Assembly, through its committee, on May 24, met with the state leadership of the during which it appealed to the union to end the strike and return to work.

    Olulade, however, hailed the state chapter for deciding to end the strike on Wednesday after a congress meeting at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He said that the chapter had urged its members to resume full services in all the state and local government facilities on Thursday before the national body of the union also announced its decision to suspend the strike.

    The lawmaker applauded the national body for showing a sense of responsibility for the sake of the helpless masses that needed medical attention.

    “We were at a peace meeting together just last week, where we appealed to the union to return to work, and in less than a week after, the union took the decision to suspend the strike.

    “This is the best decision any reasonable and coordinated union can make. I am very delighted with this decision while I am also appreciating the National Union of JOHESU for suspending its strike today.

    “I am again assuring the union in the state that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode identifies with their cause and will always address their agitations fully.

    “The governor and the government of Lagos State are working on their behalf to make sure every issue is addressed.

    “I am using this medium to commended JOHESU for the good conduct and cooperation in addressing the issue.”

    Olulade also commended the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa and members of the Health Services Committee, for swiftly intervening in the matter at the state level.

    According to him, such intervention has led to the suspension of the strike in the state before the national union followed same.

  • UCH gives JOHESU members 48 hours resumption ultimatum

    The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has directed members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) in its employment to resume duties within 48 hours or face dismissal.

    The directive was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by the institution’s Director of Administration, Mr Adeyemi Siyanbade.

    He said that the directive was in line with a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and dated May 28, 2018.

    “The Board of Management at its emergency meeting of 31st  May, 2018, therefore directed that all members of JOHESU currently on strike should return to work within 48 hours from the date of this notice.

    “Failure to resume within the stipulated period will lead to being considered as having absconded from work, an offence which attracts immediate dismissal in line with the Public Service Rule NO.030413.

    “All staff on GL13 (CONHESS13),  Assistant Director or its equivalent and above, being management staff, should not be involved in the strike action.

    “All Heads of Departments and Administrative Units are directed to bring the content of the circular to the attention of their staff for strict compliance,’’ the statement said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that JOHESU, an amalgamation of  five health workers unions,  began  a strike on  April 17, crippling health  services  across the country.

  • Edo JOHESU shuns strike directive

    Members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) in the Edo State owned hospitals have shunned directives by its national body to join in a nationwide strike action.

    A visit to the Benin Central hospital showed that all health workers were at their duty post.

    Patients were attended to at the Accident and Emergency Ward while doctors and nurses were seen administering treatment to patients on admission.

    It was gathered that the state government met with the health workers and gave them reasons on why they should not join in the strike action.

    One of the reasons adduced by the state government, according to sources, was that there was no industrial disharmony in the state and that workers were paid salaries before the end of the month.

    When contacted for comments, State Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said he just received notification from the state JOHESU that they would not be joining in the strike action.

    “They are not joining. They have notified me that they are not joining the strike action”, he said.

    Read Also: JOHESU strike paralyses activities at LASUTH

  • Strike paralyzes activists at IRRUA, UBTH

    Activities were paralyzed at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) following the strike action by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

    Doctors were seen attending to patients the hospitals but other staffers were not seen on duty.

    It was learnt that there were plans to discharge patients if the strike lingers.

    Officials of JOHESU at both IRRUA and UBTH could not be reached for comments.

    Public Relations Officer of UBTH, Mr. Uwaila Joshua, said the university’s management would manage the situation.

    He however said the health of the patients would not be jeopardized if the strike lingers.

    “The strike is national strike. We cannot do anything here. What we will is to manage the situation but we will not allow patients die if there is no one to care for them.”

    Read Also: JOHESU commences nationwide indefinite strike

  • JOHESU commences nationwide indefinite strike

    The Joint Health Sector Union ( JOHESU ) says it has commenced nationwide indefinite strike in earnest.

    Mr Obisesan Oluwatuyi, General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals ( NUAHP ) disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Oluwatuyi said that they would not call up the strike until government meets their demands.

    He said: “The soldiers have been let loose, no retreat, no surrender until government does the needful”.

    Members of the JOHESU had earlier threatened to embark on a nationwide indefinite strike beginning on Tuesday midnight due to alleged Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands.

    Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, President of the union, who issued the strike notice on Monday, attributed the industrial action to what he described as the “insensitivity and lackadaisical attitude of drivers of the health sector’’.

    He directed all JOHESU members in federal health institutions across the country to commence the strike at midnight of April 17.

    Biobelemoye listed their demands to include upward adjustment of CONHESS Salary Scale, arrears of skipping of CONHESS 10 and employment of additional health professionals.

    Other demands are implementation of court judgments and upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

    Biobelemoye, who said that the union suspended its last nationwide strike on Sept. 30, last year, after signing a Memorandum of Terms of Settlement (MOTS), with the federal government.

    According to him, the MOTS was supposed to be implemented within five weeks after the date of suspension of the strike.

    He, however, noted that six months after the suspension of the nationwide strike, government was yet to do anything tangible over the pending issues.

    According to him, the union had on Feb. 5 given a fresh 21 days ultimatum to enable government meet the agreement reached.

    The JOHESU president stated that the union gave an additional 30 working days effective from March 5, after the expiration of the earlier 21 days ultimatum.

    Biobelemoye, who described the union members as peace lovers, emphasised that the 45 days was given simply because the union had the interest of the masses at heart.

    “It is disheartening to note that after six months of suspension of our last strike and still counting, the Federal Government has not done anything tangible over pending issues especially on the flagship issue of CONHESS adjustment and payment of arrears of CONHESS 10 skipping.

    “JOHESU as a mature and responsible organisation gave 21 days notice on Feb. 5, this year, in the first instance to enable the Federal Government to do the needful.

    “At the expiration of the 21 days notice, the leadership of JOHESU reconvened to re-appraise the situation on ground and noted the lackadaisical attitude of the government toward the implementation of the Memorandum of Terms of Settlement signed on Sept. 30.

    “On April 5, 2018, the Minister of Labour and Employment invited the leadership of JOHESU for a meeting wherein we were told that our issues were still being looked into, this shows that government is taking JOHESU for a ride,’’ he said.

    Biobelemoye urged members at the states and local government health institutions on continuous sensitisation and mobilisation for possible solidarity strike, if government failed to attend to their demands.

    He also called on well-meaning Nigerians including traditional leaders, elder statesmen, opinion leaders and general public to prevail on government to implement MOTS entered into with JOHESU on Sept. 30, 2017.

    Biobelemoye explained JOHESU members were not clamouring for equality with doctors but equity and justice, advising medical doctors and the Federal Ministry of Health to change their perception of the demands.

    JOHESU draws its membership from the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives ( NANNM ), Medical and Health Workers Union ( MHWUN ), and Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals.

    Others include Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals and Non-academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutes.

    NAN

  • JOHESU stages anti-corruption protest

    JOHESU stages anti-corruption protest

    Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (AHCP) Friday staged anti-corruption protest in Abuja.

    The health workers chanted various song in protest against the reinstatement of Medical Director, of the Owerri Federal Medical Centre, Dr. Angela UWakwem.

    JOHESU also petitioned the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission decision of the Federal Ministry of Health to reinstate Medical Director of the Owerri Medical Centre (FMC), Dr Angela Uwakwem.

    JOHESU President, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah and National Secretary, Comrade Florence Ekpebor told journalists that the reinstatement of Uwakwem was against the extant rules governing the service.

    Josiah said: “the Federal Ministry of Health handling of the matter as it affects the conduct of officers in sensitive areas and we wish observed that their acts are in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s posture on corruption and his efforts to stamp out same in our public milieu.

    “It is no longer news that FMC Owerri has been embroiled in crisis on corruption by Dr Uwakwem. This situation led to her suspension and subsequent arraignment at Owerri State High Court II, by the EFCC on charges of corruption related matters.”

    The duo also accused the government of double standard in fighting corruption in the health sector, “as a group suffering this suffocating sleaze at the FMC Owerri, therefore, we wish to place on record that we shall resist the move within the ambit of the law that is already sending signals to the general public that Mr President’s anti-corruption war is embedded in double standard and that whistle blowers stand the high risk of abandonment.

    “We therefore called on Mr President to as a matter of urgency call the authorities of the Federal Ministry of Health to order.

    “We wish to salute the courage of EFCC in arraining Dr Uwakwem and call on them to pursue the case with vigour in the interest of the common man who ultimately bears the burden of these negative acts.”