The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Joint Health Sector Unions ( JOHESU )

  • Breaking: JOHESU suspends six weeks strike action

    The striking health workers have suspended the six weeks nationwide strike action.

    The suspension is with effect from Thursday, 31st May, 2018.

    The health workers under the umbrella body of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) had proceeded on a nationwide strike action on midnight of 17th April, 2018 following the Federal Government inability to honour agreements between both parties. While the strike action lasted government hospitals were only operating skeletal services, as only serious emergency cases were attended to.

    However, following the intervention of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the leadership of the unions met Thursday where it was agreed to suspend the strike.

    Read Also:Strike: Court orders FG, JOHESU back to negotiation table

    Announcing the suspension of the strike action at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of the unions held in Abuja, Com. Josiah Biobelemoye, National Chairman, JOHESU said the suspension is to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday 4th June 2018.

    Biobelemoye who briefed the media in the present of the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Ayuba Wabbara and other leaders of the unions expressed dismay and the insincerity and unseriousness exhibited at the negotiation table by the Government negotiating team which led to the breakdown of further negotiations and unnecessarily prolonged the strike action.

    He stressed that JOHESU strike actions is neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse

    He therefore said that the suspension of the strike action was not as a result of the court injunction but for the sympathy for the people.

    He said, “Due to the intervention of His Excellency, the Senate President, Senator (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki who through his love for the suffering masses displayed high level of statesmanship and sincerity of purpose by putting some machineries in place with a view to permanently resolving the issues in contention. JOHESU having considered his intervention after holding just two meetings with leadership, where serious progress were made.

    “The various gains from the meetings with His Excellency, the Senate President were presented to the NEC of JOHESU, after an exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six (6) weeks old strike be suspended this day Thursday, 31st May, 2018 because of the sympathy the Unions have for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday 4th June, 2018.”

    He also added, “We would like to place on record that JOHESU strike actions is neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse.”

    On his part, Wabara assured the unions of the support of the NLC, stressing that it has justified case.

    He noted that there were interventions by people in high places.

    He hoped that there will be fairness and justice going forward between the government and unions.

  • JOHESU strike has paralysed our businesses – operators

    Some business operators at the Abuja University Teaching Hospital (AUTH), have decried the adverse effect of the continued strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on their businesses.
    The business owners, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, described the ongoing strike as worrisome, saying it was negatively affecting their business activities.
    According to them, economic and social activities in and outside the hospital premises have been paralysed following the continued strike as most shops and business centres are witnessing low patronage.
    NAN recalls that the unions had on April 17 announced and started a nationwide indefinite strike over non implementation by the Federal Government’s agreement reached with the body.
    Since 2014, the health unions have been asking government to increase their pays and improve their members’ working conditions among other demands.
    Mrs Farida Jackson, who owns a restaurant at the hospital gate, lamented the situation, saying that her shop lacked patronage since the commencement of the strike.
    “The ongoing strike is regrettable, you know when the hospital is not operating our businesses are bound to suffer because only few people patronise us.
    “We still open our shops, since there are doctors who operate on skeletal services for some patients coming for medical services.
    “We pray that the efforts of government to solve the problems with the health unions will yield tangible results so that we can fully return to business,” she said.

    Mr Musa Yusuf, who operates a business centre, lamented the drop in economic activities, adding that since the strike started business had dropped considerably.
    “The Federal Government should take into consideration the plight of Nigerians and find a lasting solution to the problem.
    “I plead with the union to also call off the strike and give room for dialogue in the interest of the people.”
    Mrs Ada Basi, owner of a relaxation spot said, “business was thriving until the strike started and most of us have invested here due to the population.’’
    “The health sector is one particular area that should receive prompt and adequate response because when the people are healthy, it will reflect on the nation’s economy.”
    Mr Musa Ladan, a motorcycle operator at the hospital appealed to the union officials to call off the strike in the interest of the people, adding that the masses always suffered from the consequences of strikes.
    Ladan described the union’s actions as worrisome, adding that it would only increase hardships and make their businesses suffer.

    “The poor will always bear the burden as they cannot afford access to healthcare in private hospitals.
    “Our prayer is that the hospital should resume its activities so that our businesses will bounce back, we also urge the stakeholders to resolve these issues,” he pleaded.

  • Ngige to NMA: Stop meddling in JOHESU strike

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has told the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to stay away from the ongoing strike by members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) as their activities are making it difficult for government to resolve issues that led to the strike.

    The Minister, in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowokore said the doctors should stop meddling in the strike, adding that such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism.

    He however appealed to the striking health workers to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity.  

    Read Also: FG warns JOHESU against harassing doctors, others

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has been drawn to media reports credited to the new Executive of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) wherein the body  has taken to meddlesome interloping in the ongoing negotiations with the striking Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)

    “The Minister wishes to state that in trade unionism, such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism, clog the wheel of progress and in this instance, retard the return of industrial harmony in the entire health sector.

    “Hence, the NMA should desist from further interference of any form, in the ongoing negotiation as well as stop issuing threats to the Federal Government as it is firmly resolved to achieve a lasting industrial peace in all sectors without prejudice to perceived group interests.

    “Besides, I wish to once more appeal to JOHESU to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity.  I therefore plead that you consider the tragic consequences your action has already brought on the vulnerable patients in hospitals across the nation.”

  • ‘JOHESU demand for salary parity neither practicable, nor acceptable’

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said on Monday that the demand by striking Joint Health Sector Unions ( JOHESU ) for salary parity with medical doctors was neither practicable nor acceptable.

    The minister made this known in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Olajide Oshundun, Assistant Director of Information of the ministry.

    The statement was a reaction by the ministry to the advertorial by JOHESU in some national dailies.

    The minister, however, said an offer has been made to adjust the salaries and wages of its members by the Federal Government.

    “As a responsible government will do everything within our power to bring the ongoing strike action to an end as quickly as possible.

    “Indeed, the federal government has put machinery in place to ensure that the strike is called off by meeting with JOHESU officials on several occasions.

    “But what JOHESU is asking for is parity with medical doctors which is neither practicable nor acceptable to the federal government,’’ the minister said.

    Adewole described the current strike action by the unions as unfortunate, noting that“the health and wellbeing of many Nigerians have been affected.”

    The minister reiterated that there was no agreement between the federal government and JOHESU prior to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He added that what JOHESU brandished as 2014 agreement were minutes of meetings they had with organs of government.

    He explained that in September 2017, JOHESU presented 15-point demand and the Federal Government has implemented 14 while the last demand was still been attended to.

    Adewole therefore appealed to the unions to immediately call off the strike and allow for the conclusion of the assignment given to a high powered body on the 2017 agreement.

    “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will not renege on any agreement entered into with any labour organisation including JOHESU,’’ he said

    The minister also appealed to the general public to bear with the government as efforts were on to end the ongoing strike as quickly as possible.

    NAN

  • No going back on strike, says Lagos health workers

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Wednesday said there was no going back on the strike called by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) until their demands are met.

    MHWUN’s Federal Area Council chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Attah, said the action was a continuation of last year’s suspended strike, adding that it was called due to the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill an agreement that was reached.

    Attah led other union executives to federal hospitals, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), to ensure total compliance with the strike.

    He said all the agreements reached with the Federal Government at last year’s meeting were not implemented, including an adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) scale.

    Attah said the Federal Government also allegedly violated a judgment in a case won by JOHESU in November 2013 in which the court held that JOHESU members could skip grade levels, which was allegedly stopped by the Ministry of Health.

    He alleged double standard, saying while skipping was allowed for some health workers, such as those in the core Ministry of Health who could jump from levels nine to 11, it was stopped in parastatals and departments.

    “Because they felt that we’re not human beings, they felt that other health professionals should not enjoy skipping,” he said, adding that several workers were suffering career stagnation and injustice as a result.

    According to Attah, when the agreement was signed, the time-line for its implementation was five weeks. “From September 2017 that the meeting was held till now, is that not over seven months?” he asked.

    The MHWUN chief said medical doctors were treated as if they were more important to the health sector than other professionals, such as pharmacists, radiologists, nurses, hospitals administrators and others, adding that such professionals are not given senior management positions like doctors.

    Attah alleged that most medicals doctors spend more time running their private clinics than they do in the government hospitals despite the huge salaries they receive.

    “They close from government hospitals and they go to their private practice and even direct patients to their private practices, which is against Public Service Rules, yet the government is not doing anything about it,” he said.

    He said public hospitals were not only poorly funded, but were badly managed, saying hospitals should be run by trained administrators rather than strictly by doctors.

    Attah the hospitals would remain shut until their demands were met, such as upward adjustment of CONHESS salary scale, payment of skipping arrears, employment of additional health professionals, implementation of court judgments and upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65.

    Read Also: Health workers resume suspended strike over service conditions

  • Health workers may resume suspended strike soon

    Health workers may resume suspended strike soon

    Health workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has given indication that they may resume their suspended strike action any moment from now as the government was yet to respond to their terms of settlement two months after signing the agreement leading to the suspension of the strike.

    National Chairman of the JOHESU and National President of the Medical and Health workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah who dropped the hint while speaking with newsmen after a reception organised by Association of Medical Laboratory Technicians and Assistants of Nigeria (AMELTAN).

    He said the health workers suspended their strike based on government promise to address their demand within five weeks.

    He said “We suspended our strike action following the Federal government’s promise to approve the adjustment of the salary in 5 weeks. We as health sector workers love the health of Nigerians, and on our own, we are doing our best. Count from the 4th of October 2017 till now, it is well beyond 5 weeks. So if we do not get that adjustment, Nigerians should bear with us”. 

    Josiah also warned against further delay in the negotiation of the new national minimum wage, pointing out that organised Labour will resist any delay by the tripartite committee to renegotiate a new minimum wage for the country, as any reasonable government will not waste time on the issue of welfare for the citizens.  

    He  said the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has been consistent on its earlier  demand for N56.000 as minimum wage in her proposal to the federal government, saying “We have a trusted leadership that will not allow government to use the minimum wage issue as a means of scoring political points. We are certain that should government try to employ delay tactics for any self-gain, our leadership will pull out”.  

    “NLC earlier made it clear that it want N56.000 for new minimum wage. And as a responsible body, it is not required of NLC to continually change its position because it is not a chameleon. And if the political class is demanding to be paid like their counterparts in the United States, they should also consider paying the working class like their counterparts abroad too.

    “Presently, the minimum wage in U.S.A is $1600 and here in Nigeria our current minimum wage is less than $40. They should be more reasonable to know that the more they put in us, the more productive we will be and the less for anybody to loot.”

    “Every right thinking government ought not to delay such issue as minimum wage, because the wellbeing of the citizens is among the constitutional responsibilities of government. So if the government want to actually move the economy of this country to the next level, it certainly must give the people a proper earning power.

    “If the government is not willing to empower the working class, who then will purchase the high cost commodities that you brought into the society. So for the economy to run well, and  for the manufacturers, industrialists and what have you to function well, the society needs a well-paid workforce. Government needs to know that the population of the working class is the one that runs the local economy especially in non-industrialised economies like Nigeria.”

    He condemned the allocation to the Health Sector in the 2018 Budget, saying, “The health sector is not funded properly. And if government want us to give world class health services are they are requiring us to give, it should do well fund the health sector since we already have the required skills. How do we put our skills to practice when they don’t fund the health sector proper?”

  • Striking health workers alleged intimidation, attack

    Striking health workers alleged intimidation, attack

    Health Workers in the country under the auspices or the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have accused hospital managements of harassing its members and threatening them  sack over their participation in the ongoing strike called by the unions to protest government failure to implement agreement s reached with them.
    Specifically, JOHESU is accusing the Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee of Irrua Specialist Hospital, Dr. Wilson Ovienra of beating up its branch chairman in the hospital, Comrade Fidelis Ogobor and destroying the phone of another while monitoring compliance by members.
    National Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the they have informed the Minister  of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole of the unprovoked  on it’s members, pointing out that no amount of intimidation will deter them from achieving their set agenda.
    He said the union never interfered in the strike by Resident Doctors, and called on the government to do the needful by meeting the demand of the workers and calling all hospital management to order.
    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the malhandling of the JOHESU Branch Chairman of  Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, ISTH, Comrade Fidelis Ogobor by the Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Dr. Wilson ovienria on Friday september 22, 2017, just when Comrade ogobor was leading a monitoring team to check compliance of workers to the strike called by the national body of JOHESU.
    “We express our displeasure with the ISTH CMAC who stooped so low to have slapped Comrade Ogobor and destroyed the mobile handset (iphone) belonging to another of our member, Mr Tune.
    “JOHESU by this statement call on the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor. Isaac Adewole to as a matter of urgency call Doctors across hospitals in Nigeria to be mindful of provoking our members who have remained calm since we called for strike and will remain so, while waiting patiently for government to do the needful
    “JOHESU wishes to inform the Honourable minister of Health by this statement and a message sent to the minister’s office that after assaulting members who did not try to retaliate but only notified the police DPO at Irrua,  the ISTH CMAC has continued to threaten to attack our union leaders and to sack workers.
    “We also wish to remind the Minister that during the period when the Association of Resident Doctors ( NARD) embarked on strike, no JOHESU member had any cause to have any provocative encounter nor interfere with the doctors or any member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
    “We also remind Government that no amount of provocation will intimidate JOHESU members from continuing our just fight against Discrimination, Corruption, Under – Funding etc, until our demands are met. We have declared “Operation Alligator Bite” as the code-name of the ongoing strike over the refusal of the Federal Government to implement series of MOUs, agreements and court cases which JOHESU has won at the National Industrial Court, including neglect of our members.
    “We Appeal to the general public to understand our position, as we respect our patients and would not wish anyone to be sick,  but we have to also state that fighting for better healthcare delivery and welfare of workers at the hospitals are paramout. We assure that as soon as government fulfil its part of the bargain, we will call off our industrial action.”
    Dr.Wilson Ovienria could not be reached for comment at the time of fiing this report.
  • FG urges JOHESU to shelve planned strike

    FG urges JOHESU to shelve planned strike

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has appealed to National Association of Joint Health Sector Unions ( JOHESU ) to shelve planned strike commencing at midnight on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

    The minister made the appeal in a statement by Mrs Olajide Oshundun, the Assistant Director, Media and Public Relations of the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Oshundun quoted the minister as saying “the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment have had series of meeting with the leadership of JOHESU of which most of their demands had been met.”

    He added that some of the issues addressed by the meetings included payment of promotion arrears that pre-dated President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    The minister added that other issues raised by JOHESU were still being deliberated upon with the leadership of the Union.

    Adewole, therefore, appealed to JOHESU to shelve their planned strike in the interest of the generality of Nigerians, especially the less privileged that may not afford healthcare services in private hospitals.

    He assured that the Federal Government would continue to do everything possible to guarantee quality and affordable healthcare for Nigerians.