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Tag: Joint Health Sector Unions

  • Pay our promotion arrears, psychiatric workers pray in Calabar

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health care Professionals (AHPAN) of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Calabar have demanded the payment of their promotion arrears from 2014 till date.

    Rising from a Congress in Calabar, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the hospital and Secretary of JOHESU, Comrade Ken Bassey, who presented the communique, called for immediate and unconditional payment of the arrears.

    According to Bassey, they have given the authorities up to December 31 for the matter to be addressed.

    The communique, signed by the Chairman, Comrade Dan Odo, Secretary, Doris Nso and member, Godwin Adede read: “The congress drew the attention of the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation that promotion arrears from 2014 until date have not been paid to our members. We call for the immediate and unconditional payment of same to enable us to celebrate Christmas with our kith and kin.

    “That the management of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Calabar should immediately and unconditionally release the result of this year’s promotion exercise for senior members of staff.

    “The congress commended the courage and resoluteness of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption in all its ramifications.  The congress prayed that God should renew his vigour and patriotism in order to succeed despite daunting challenges.

    “The congress expressed appreciation on the setting up of the 30-man committee on the national minimum wage and called for speedy action to ensure that Nigerian workers heave a sigh of relief with the much-expected living wage early next year.

    “The congress applauded the bravery of the Nigerian Armed Forces to decimate the dreaded Boko Haram sect. As they intensify efforts to mop up their remnants, they should also direct attention to renewed incidences of kidnapping and robbery across the country.

    “The congress equally appeals to her members to show more commitment to their duties by shunning absenteeism, lateness to work and truancy.”

     

  • UATH, national hospital  joins JOHESU strike action

    UATH, national hospital  joins JOHESU strike action

    The Chairman, National Association of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Steve Oricha has said the union is in solidarity with the indefinite strike action code named ‘operation alligator bite.’

    He said during the protest, on Thursday, at the hospital in Abuja that the protest was in compliance with directive issued by the national body to commence nationwide indefinite strike action.

    Oricha said a 30-day notice was earlier given to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health, followed by another seven days without any response.

    He noted that until the federal government honours the agreement, which the union had been demanding, the protest will continue.

    According to him, JOHESU demanded for a review in salary structure, promotion and most importantly for the federal government to honour a National Industrial Court judgment on irregular promotion method among other 19 demands.

    He argued that since 2010 when the judgment was made, the federal ministry of health has refused comply.

    His words: “There are almost 23 demands by the national Johesu. It includes the payment of arrears, adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), promotion of our colleagues that are due to be promoted to directorship. It also include, recognizing our members who have risen to that peak of their careers as consultant.

    “We want government to also replicate the residency training and other interventions in other segment of the health sector in our union. For instance, we both graduated from the same university, spent the same five years. We got employed at the same time but as I was employed, government gave me CONHESS 8 but a medical doctor is given CONHESS 13. Why is that disparity?”

    He argued that the federal government would thereafter train the medical doctors on through what he described as residency training for five years, adding that upon arrival, the doctors are promoted.

    “No other categories in the health sector have the same privilege. The federal government also sends house officers to various universities and teaching hospitals for internships leaving other professionals to go scout themselves, meanwhile the health workers offers the same services to the people,” he added.

    Also, at  the National Hospital, Abuja health workers  pushed  home their demands, as  nurses staged a rally.

    The rally, which in collaboration with other health workers was held at the hospital premises, thereby disrupting activities.

    They were joined by the FCT Chairperson, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Deborah Yusuf  and the National Chairman, Federal Health Institutions Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Wale Olatunde, and some members of their executives.

    Terver Upu, the chairman of both JOHESU, and the  National Association of Nigerian Nurses, National Hospital Branch said nurses at the hospital has stopped clinical services in compliance  with national directives.

    He said that infrastructural decay, lack of drugs and equipment in hospitals, injustice to nurses and denial or remuneration and arrears was the reason they embarked on the industrial action.

    Comrade Deborah Yusuf, Federal Capital Territory Chairperson, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, said that nurses and other helath professionals under JOHESU have withdrawn their services indefinitely in all federal health institutions in the FCT and nationwide, adding  “We suspended the same  strike, two years back but  nothing has been done to address it till now, even after series of meeting with them. We have been patient enough.”

    Chairman of  the Federal Health Institutions sector of the  National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Wale Olatunde  said government’s denial of skipping for nurses and  owing them arrears was not fair when it allows same for even students and other professionals.

    Nurses in the Federal health facilities were  directed to join strike action after  a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Tuesday, where the leadrship of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) threw it’s weight behind  JOHESU and directed it members to join the indefinite strike action by today’s  midnight  20th of September 2017.

    JOHESU has issued an ultimatum to embark on strike action starting from midnight today should the government fails to address it’s demand.

    NANNM who warned of imminent shutdown of the health facilities across the country, also directed nurse at the states and Local government to join the strike one week after.

    Briefing Journalists in Abuja, President of the union, Abdrafiu Adeniji said “Finally, it should be noted that the continuous peace and harmony in the health sector can no longer be guaranteed if the Federal Government fails to abide by the various agreements reached since 2012 for the betterment of Nursing Profession and the Health Sector in general.

    Therefore, all Nurses and Midwives in all Federal health Institutions are hereby directed to join other JOHESU members to proceed on an indefinite strike action from midnight of Wednesday, 20th of September 2017.”

    The union listed some of it’s demand to include: “Chronic shortage of  both general and specialist manpower in our various institutions  Inadequate provision of medical consumables  and services in an attempt to promote PPP for personal and selfish reasons
    Stagnation/Redesignation/Demotion of our members contrary to 2012 & 2014 NIC Judgments on career progression  and skipping
    Stoppage/Non-Restoration of payment of Teaching Allowance to our deserving members on CONHESS 7&8 despite enabling circular
    Non-Payment of arrears owed from 2011 till date in most hospitals;

    Non-Payment of uniform allowance owed from 2008 till date in some hospitals;

    Non –payment of arrears of Relativity Allowance to our deserving members; and non deduction and non-remittance of union dues by some hospital managements.”

  • JOHESU Strike: UCH grounded as workers place sacrifices in hospital

    JOHESU Strike: UCH grounded as workers place sacrifices in hospital

    Medical activities were on Thursday paralysed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan as members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) in the Hospital complied with the directives of the national body on an indefinite strike amidst pandemonium and fears.
     
    Leaders and members of the various health unions in the hospital had converged at the school of Nursing within the premises of the hospital from where they marched to the main gate of the hospital for the declaration of the strike.
     
    The Union members had converged within the premises of the hospital as early as 7am and were said to have allegedly placed sacrifices prepared inside pots at strategic locations in the hospital.
     
    To create more fears, one of fetish ‘sacrifices’ was placed few meters to the office of the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof. Temitope Alonge.
     
    Some of the items used in the preparation of the sacrifice include; pap, palm oil, palm fronts, grasses and some other items, all frightfully arranged in big brown calabash.  
     
    The workers in their desperation to ensure all measure to hinder their strict compliance were jettisoned also blocked the main entrance to the hospital thereby making entrance into the hospital difficult for those who had come for medical check up or treatment.
     
    Also, leaders of the workers unions further led other members, in their hundreds to shut down their various offices in compliance with the directive of the umbrella body on the national strike.
     
    The office of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge was also not sparred as he was shut out.
     
    Other areas also shut down include the power source that serve the hospital as well as instruments and equipment rooms.
     
    Addressing the workers in an emergency congress shortly before dispersing them, Chairman, Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), UCH Branch, Mr. Olusegun Sotiloye said the unions had been pushed to the wall stressing that they had employed all peaceful means of dialogue but to no avail.
     
    He said, “I want to plead with you not to be intimidated, all your heads of department have been duly informed about this exercise, so there is no need for us to fear, the exercise is going to be total.”
     
    Other union leaders who spoke at the congrese decried the insensitivity of government to their plight stressing that the strike is total and that until their demands are met, none of the offices will be opened.
     
    Accoding to them, the indefinite strike was sequel to the failure of the government to give due attention to their demands stressing that health workers in Nigeria have been greatly marginalized and that this is the time to say no and take a stand.
     
    The various speakers also implored their members to go home and keep their phone lines open at all time as there will be need for them to be contacted for further development about the indefinite strike warning that any member that violate the procedures of the strike by reporting for duty will be sanctioned.
     
    The Nation observed that most of the offices were under lock and keys at hospital as the union leaders supervised the workers as they return to their various homes.
  • Nurses, other health workers begin indefinite strike

    Nurses, other health workers begin indefinite strike

    Health workers in the country under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) are to shut down all health facilities in the country from midnight following failure of government to respond to their demands.

    The workers had issued a 30 day ultimatum for government to met their demand and another 7 day ultimatum which the workers said government has failed to respond to positively.

    The unions are demanding the: 

    • Adjustment of CONHESS salary as done for CONMESS since January 2014
    • Abolition of scale to scale promotion
    • Payment of outstanding arrears of promotion, skipping and relativity
    • Autonomy for Teaching and Specialist Hospitals in the country and other issues
    • Implementation of all court judgements
    • review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years as done for the tertiary education sector.

    The workers declared what it called “Operation Alligator Bite“, asking its members across the country to proceed on an indefinite and total strike action from Wednesday, September 20, 2017 if government fails to meet its demand.

    Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah told The Nation on phone that the workers have voted unanimously to commence the Industrial action from midnight, pointing out that “by tomorrow morning, all health facilities would have been shut down”.

    JOHESU is made up of Medical and Health Workers of Nigeria’ National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutes.

    The unions said they have ran out of patience with the government who have refused to address issues affecting their members since 2012, including the implementation of a valid court judgement in their favour.

    Josiah had told newsmen at a news conference that the government t appeared not willing to address their demands, pointing out that even after inviting them to a meeting on short notice, the federal Ministry of a Health failed to attend the meeting, leaving them with no option than to declare a total strike at the expiration of an additional seven days with effect from Thursday, September 14, 2017

    He said: “We have come to hold this press conference following the snub that we received from the Federal Ministry of Health, even yesterday after we were invited to a meeting. 

    “Less than 24 hours after we were given an invitation, we, as people who love Nigerians and considering the importance of health to Nigerians who would want to resolve issues without embarking on strike or going through the hard way responded positively. The meeting was shifted from 2.00pm to 3.00pm, we stayed for the love and health of Nigerians to attend the meeting, but to our greatest dismay, the very Ministry that invited us and has given top priority to other members of the health sector failed to be ready for our meeting.”

    While explaining that they are forced by government to declare the strike, he explained that they were not going on strike because other are doing so, but because of the failure of government to address issues concerning their members and open and clear bias being displayed against them. 

    “This is not to say that we are not concerned with the plight of millions of Nigerians that may suffer some effect. But Nigerians should also understand that we have been very patient. Nigerians should also help the government to realize that bias is not the answer to giving effective service delivery in this country. 

    “We have a situation where one person goes in illegal strike and you grant him amnesty plus all that he demanded for. 

    “A situation where where the Ministry will be bias to go to court to seek injunctions to restrain legitimate bodies from embarking on strike, but look the other way when it come to another is highly provocative. It is on that note that we say we have reached a point of no return and we so, we are declaring Operation Alligator bite.

    “There is huge and naked discriminatory treatment in the ministry of health and on that strength, we are saying enough is enough. 

    “Ask those who know how the Alligator behave will tell you that it is a very patient and peaceful animal. But when it is offended to the point of reacting, especially at night, it bites and when it does, it bite very severely. This time, we have decided to bite and if we are allowed to bite, we will bite and close our eyes. That is why we code name it operation Alligator bite.”

    He explained further that: “Knowing the impact of strike on the Nigerian citizens, we are very slow at embarking on strike action. My predecessors shifted strike more than 24 times which is to tell you that we have the history of putting the Nigerian people first in spite of the huge injustice we suffer. 

    “That is why we are telling Nigerians that when ever we say we are embarking on an action, believe us that we have gone through series of efforts, several meetings and talks. Since we like doing things in order, we wrote to government giving them 30 days to resolve our issues and that 30 days has expired and nothing has been done. 

    “Is 30 days not enough for a Ministry that wants to resolve issues to do so. How many days did it take them to summon the high power d meeting between them and Resident Doctors and NMA. What we are saying is that someone should not be treated with bias. 

    “There has been a lot of discriminations and on that strength we are saying that the first place that need restructuring is the federal Ministry of Health. If the Ministry is restructure for better health service, then you will have a healthy Nigeria and a healthy Nigeria will be a prosperous Nigeria.

    “We are not going on strike because others have done so. If that were to be so, we should have embarked on strike at the expiration of our ultimatum. But because we are concerned about the impact, we have given further seven days. 

    “Nothing stops us from declaring the strike with the treatment we were given yesterday, but we have Nigerians at heart and we are hoping that the federal ministry of health will take a positive position. We are no longer believing anything because we have been deceived  many times. 

    “We have always been saying that there  is bias in the ministry and that is why our letters are not attended to swiftly. The Minister is a medical doctor, the minister of state is a medical doctor and until recently, the Permanent Secretary was a medical doctor. To complete the chain, the Minister of Labour is also a medical doctor and so, the bias is very strong. 

    “We have been saying that the government should dechain this sets of chains so that we can have some peace. The medical doctors represents about five percent of the man power in the health industry and government has given everything of control in the health system to one group that makes up five percent and others that makes up the 95 percent does not have the right to fair representation.

    “This is a Ministry that profess to respect the rule of law, but whenever they push our members to strike, they declare no work, no pay. But today, they have signed an agreement and we appreciate them for abrogating the no work, no pay rule because they have signed an agreement that nobody will be victimized for participating in the strike even as illegal as it is because they are a non registered trade union performing a trade union activity.

    While accusing the government of not implementing agreements reached with the union since 2012, Josiah said “On the 10th May, 2012, agreements were reached on issues on issues our members. Issues upon which we could not agree where referred to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. We were in court till August 2013 when judgement was given in favour of JOHESU on skipping of CONHESS 10. 

    “As we speak, the federal government has not paid attrears of the skipping arrears to our members where as the Resident Doctors who were neither a party to the case or are on CONHESS insisted they should skip on CONMESS and arrears paid to them while the originate beneficiaries are not paid.

    “The Federal Ministry of Health has been frustrating the implementation of the court judgements by introducing same scale promotion. Instance, when members are promoted from CONHESS 9 to 11, at subsequent promotions, they are promoted from CONHESS 11 to CONHESS 11. This is totally unacceptable. 

    “Efforts made through several committees to get the agreements reached implemented were frustrated by the Federal Ministry of Health who is always protecting the interest of Medical Doctors.”

    “In 2013, the Alhaji Goni Aji (former Head of Service of the Federation) committee was set up to see to the implementation of agreements reached with JOHESU but the committee could not achieve anything which necessitated the setting up of the high level body headed by the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim. 

    “The committee worked between January and August 2014 and when it was realized that even agreement reached at that level was not implemented. JOHESU went on strike from December 2014 to February 2015 when the then President, Goodluck Jonathan intervened and appealed that because of the 2015 election coming up then, we should give him time to positively look into our demands after the election.

    “As a mark of respect for the new administration of Buhari, we waited till early 2016 when the late James Ocholi (SAN) held series of meetings with us till his sudden demise. We gave several ultimatum thereafter and the last the one dated 11the August, 2017 giving 30 days for the government to resolve the issues.

    “By a letter dated 11th September 2017 ref. No DHS/821/vol.82 received on 11th September 2017, the Hon.Minister of Health called JOHESU for a meeting for 2.00p  of Tuesday 12 September 2017 in the Minister’s conference room. Despite the short notice, we were there till 3.30 pm and when the Minister of Health was not ready for.

    “We are therefore left with no option than to give a final seven days ultimatum with effect from Thursday, 14th September, 2017 and if by the mid night of Wednesday, 20th September, 2017 our demands are not met, all members nationwide are called upon to embark on indefinite total strike action.”

  • Health workers to begin strike September 20

    Health workers to begin strike September 20

    • Declare operation alligator bite

    Health workers in the country under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has declared what it called “Operation Alligator Bite“, asking its members across the country to proceed on an indefinite and total strike action from Wednesday, September 20, 2017 if government fails to meet its demand.

    The Unions accused the Federal Ministry of Health and the federal government of bias in their handling of matters that concern the health sector, with preferential treatment accorded to medical doctors whenever they embark on “illegal strike” action.

    They also accused the Ministry of Health of inviting them to a meeting only to snub them, but took immediate action when the medical doctors declared their strike even though they were a non registered body performing a trade union activity.

    JOHESU is made up of Medical and Health Workers of Nigeria’ National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutes.

  • Strike: Joint health sector unions give FG seven days ultimatum

    Strike: Joint health sector unions give FG seven days ultimatum

    The Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over non- implementation of 2012 agreement reached with the unions.

    Mr Biobelemoye Josiah, National Chairman, JOHESU gave the ultimatum during a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Josiah said on May 10, 2012, agreements were reached between the Federal Government and the unions, saying that issues that were not agreed upon were referred to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

    Related: Go to private hospitals, we are on strike

    “We are therefore left with no option than to give a final seven days ultimatum with effect from Thursday Sept. 14, 2017 and if by the midnight of Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 our demands are not met.

    “All our members nationwide would be called upon to embark on indefinite total strike,” he said.

    He said the unions demand from the Federal Government includes adjustment of CONHESS salary as done for CONMESS since 2014, and abolition of scale to scale promotion.

    He said others are payment of outstanding arrears of promotion, skipping and relativity, autonomy of Teaching and Specialist Hospitals in the country among other issues.

    Others yet to be implemented are the implementation of Court judgments, review of retirement age from 60-65 years as done for the Tertiary Education Sector,” he said.

    He said that the issue of Autonomy for Teaching and Specialist Hospitals in the country as it affect service delivery to the citizens was partly responsible for the media tourism being witnessed in the country.

    He, however, called for a full time employment for all Chief Executive officers, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, among others to ensure commitment to the growth of the hospitals.

    He called on the Federal Government to re-organise the management structure of the Teaching and Specialist hospitals for effective service delivery to reduce to the barest minimum medical tourism.