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Tag: Strike

  • Varsity non-teaching staff may resume suspended strike

    THE Joint Action Committee of universities’ non-academic  workers has threatened to resume its suspended strike.

    The workers are accusing the Federal Government of failing to implement the agreement, which led to the suspension of the industrial action.

    The Non-Academic Staff Union General Secretary, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, told The Nation that 12 weeks after signing the agreement, the government had not  implemented it, pointing out that  union was sad about this.

    He said the three unions that made up of the Non-Academic Staff Union, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the National Association of Academic Technologists on Monday, June 11 met over the matter and decided to resume the strike.

    But Labour and Employment Minister, Senator Chris Ngige denied reneging on the agreement, assuring that the government would pay them.

    Adeyemi said: “The strike was basically on the fact that the government reneged on its agreement with us on a number of issues. When our members insisted, we had to resume the suspended strike, which lasted for six weeks. We had a meeting with the government and we were promised. They asked us to allow them finalise some of the contacts they were making and for the Presidency to release some funds. They pleaded that we should give them five weeks. But it is about 12 weeks and nothing has happened.

    “Our members are seriously agitated because nobody is talking to us about anything. That is the most unfortunate thing that has happened to us in the industrial relation arena in our country. The government will sign an MoU with Labour and go to bed. JAC called another meeting for Monday.

    “It is most likely that the suspended strike will have to be restarted. We prevailed on our members after the expiration of the five weeks to give government more time. We have been moving around talking to those concerned, but there has been nothing positive from government. It is a very sad development.”

  • JOHESU appeals court order, insists on strike

    The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) is appealing an order of interim injunction from the National Industrial Court (NIC), compelling it to immediately resume duties.

    Addressing an emergency news conference on behalf of the national body of JOHESU in Abuja yesterday, Dr Godwin Okara, the Chairman Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA), said the matter is now at the Court of Appeal.

    Okara said JOHESU had filed Court Processes before the Court of Appeal on May 21, challenging the locus standi of the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, an NGO, and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

    He said the union only received the NIC order at 5.39 pm on Friday (May 25).

    “An Order of Interim Injunction compelling JOHESU to immediately resume duties was just served on JOHESU at 5.39 p.m. on Friday May 25.

    “We have the greatest respect and regard for the Judiciary of our country Nigeria.

    “It has always proved to be the bulwark of our democracy, the last hope of the common man and the flagship of the vanguard for law and order in human society,” he said.

    Okara described the suit as a calculated attempt by the Federal Ministry of Health and the NGO to demonise JOHESU through sustained misinformation and falsehood.

    The JOHESU official explained that the briefing was aimed at updating the media and the general public on the latest developments affecting the industrial action.

    He explained that the union decided to seek legal redress when it noticed that there was an intention by the parties to tarnish the image of its members on the mass media when they have not received any court order.

    “JOHESU had before the receipt of this Court Order filed Court Processes in the National Industrial Court and the Court of Appeal on May 21, 2018, challenging the locus standi of the NGO and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

    “The move is a follow up to the calculated attempt to demonise JOHESU through sustained misinformation and falsehood by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, an NGO, which is neither our employer nor a party to the agreement JOHESU signed with Government.

    “The NGO has constituted itself into a meddlesome interloper,” Okara said.

    He also expressed concern over the persistent attempts by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to misinform the public through malicious fabrication of accusation and blatant lies that JOHESU members had locked up theatres, consulting rooms, laboratories and wards.

    Okara dismissed insinuations by the NMA that their members were intimidated by JOHESU officials and hospital authorities lack the power to keep the gates and doors of our health facilities open.

    “It beats my imagination that NMA will go to any ridiculous length in giving bad names to a dog in order to hang it,” he said.

    According to him, JOHESU members have conducted themselves with the highest degree of restraint and discipline in the face of provocation and double-dealing by the Federal Ministry of Health and NMA.

    The AHPA chairman commended the leadership of the Senate for their recent intervention aimed at ensuring full and amicable resolution of the crisis.

    Okara also appreciated all men and women of good conscience that have lent their voices of reason to JOHESU’s struggle for improved healthcare facilities in the country, justice, fairness and equity in the health sector.

     

  • JOHESU strike: Patients complain of intimidation at FMC Makurdi

    Patients at the Federal Medical Centre ( FMC ), Makurdi, have complained of alleged intimidation by members and officials of striking Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) in Benue.

    It was gathered that there was commotion and panic around the main entrance of the hospital following attempts by the union to enforce total compliance to their protracted strike.

    The report said that patients, some health workers and passersby were caught in the commotion, which lasted for about half an hour before it was calmed.

    According to the report, attempts by JOHESU officials to stop their members from reporting to work caused the commotion.
    The commotion led to traffic build-up, thereby obstructing free flow of traffic along the Atiku Abubakar Road directly in front of the hospital.

    Some union officials were heard issuing verbal threats of physical assault to members bent on reporting to work just as some of the patients and relatives said they were also prevented from entering the hospital.

    One of the officials (name withheld) was heard threatening a member “If you enter here I will beat you; try now let’s see” at the entrance.

    Read Also: JOHESU strike paralyses activities at LASUTH

    One of the patients, Mrs Rose Audu, said she was shocked at the commotion at the hospital gate, and described it as “embarrassing”.
    Audu admitted that she was harassed by the officials who thought she was a health worker.

    She, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to quickly resolve the contending issues to allow the health workers resume work.

    Addressing journalists at the scene, the state Chairman, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr Dennis Nyam, said they would continue with the strike until their demands were met.

    He explained that the union leadership was on a monitoring exercise in all the hospitals to enforce compliance and was determined to ensure 100 per cent compliance.

    Also speaking on the development, the Head of Clinical Services, FMC, Dr Paulinus Abu, said the management was working with the police to ensure maintenance of law and order.

    He regretted that despite all entreaties, the JOHESU members in the state had remained adamant and were recalcitrant on going ahead with the strike.

    He said owing to the location of the hospital, the strike needed to be handled with utmost maturity to prevent miscreants taking advantage of it to wreck havoc on the community.

    Police officers were sighted thereafter, within the vicinity of the hospital to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

  • Lesson my patient taught me about strike

    I stood near the side of my patient, speechless, my heart quite weary from much anguish, as I struggled to break the news to her.

    She was a middle-aged woman, obese with a huge chronically infected wound on her legs. She was really pale and sick. Her blood pressure was dropping.  I had spoken to her the night before. She was distressed from her illness yet subtly optimistic. She has told me the night before in her low, shaky voice “Doctor, I have gone through a lot in private hospitals without improvement, but I decided to come here to the tea..ching…. hospital, I hope I will be fine?  I had answered her in a calm reassuring tone, a telltale sign of years of treating similar illnesses with strings of successes. “ma you will be fine, we have specialists here, that will take good care of you”. I smiled as I said those words, and I could see her grin, her eyes lit up with hope and blazing optimism.

    Now I was there again the next morning, struggling to speak, I was broken and felt pangs of guilt crushing my heart. I was about to dash her flicker of hope, but I knew I had to speak. I stuttered at some few low monotonic words “ma…. ma… I am sorry ma to tell u that doctors are on strike, so we might need to discharge u to another hospital”. Immediately, I muttered those words, the little flicker of hope in her eyes vanished, I could see her eyes dim in gloom. “o…k” she deeply sighed

    Later that day, I accompanied the relatives as they wheeled the patient outside into a small car packed in front of the ward. I assisted the patient as she got into the car. I stood still as the driver started the car. I looked at the pale, weak woman struggling to survive, her head bowed, she still was able to mumble a few words of gratitude “Thank you doctor”. I watched her as the driver zoomed her off, to where?  I could not say, but I knew we had failed her, our strike has left her with no choice but towards an uncertain destination. “Nothing can justify this”, I thought in my mind, no amount of right or just privileges can pay the price for an unjust and painful death of a patient.

    Major breakthrough in modern medicine all arose out of the need to save lives. The early inventions in medicine from Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, India and China were all driven by quest to solve the mysterious illnesses of patients. It was Hippocrates, father of modern medicine that said “Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” Florence Nightingale, pioneered modern nursing when she saw the distasteful, unhygienic state, soldiers were treated during the Crimean war. It was out of this compassion to care for them that formal nursing programs were instituted. Medicine and Priesthood was difficult to separate in the medieval times because of the unique role of both in cure of the mind, body and spirit of its client.

    Overtime, because of the need for efficiency and the advent of evidence-based medicine, specialization in medicine and nursing care was introduced. Pharmacy, Laboratory science, and Radiography were incorporated to medical field to improve the effectiveness of patients care. Innovation then was geared towards improvement of patients care and health. The mystic nature of human disease was the single driving force towards medical innovation.

    But how come, the single driving factor of the existence of hospital and medical practice has now become puns and squabble in the hands of health workers. How come the grass that sustained the elephant have now become vulnerable to the animosities of the elephants themselves.

    The singular answer to that is that we health workers have left our first love…we have become enmeshed in the battle of superiority and hegemony. We have become fattened by pleasures and have forgotten the reason for our employment.  We have lost our vision of a perfect health care where all diseases can be treated. We have allowed our hospitals to be filled with carcasses of innocent lives.

    It is undoubted that we have the right as health workers, as free moral agents to demand for our well-deserved privileges. We have the right to protest. We have the right to seek for the improvement of our various disciplines. We have the right to reach the highest stage of Maslow’s pyramids “self-actualization”. We have that right to seek for a better welfare.

    However, the right and privileges we seek must not be viewed through our angle alone, but it must always be visualized only  through one microscope and only through one question; Will this demands improve patients care? That is the only moral scale we can use to measure the validity of our demands. So if we want a Lab scientist to become the CMD of an hospital, will that improve patients care better than before? If we have a consultant nurse, will it improve patients care ? Will residency in physiotherapy improve the patients care?  Will the frequent attack from doctors against the demands of JOHESU improve patients care? Does the incessant strike from Doctors and JOHESU improve patients care?

    If we can ponder on this question across all our demands and answer it in a most sincere way. If we can also recognize the only inescapable truths that we will all be a patient one day, then we would have started the race towards having the best health care in the world.

    As I walked back home that fateful day, I heard the echoes ringing in my mind. “There is no rightful privilege just enough to substitute for a human life, no matter how right or sacrosanct the demand is”.

    That patient of mine died some months after we discharged her, longer than I thought, thanks to the private hospital that upgraded their services when we down tooled.

    To her I dedicate this write up, and the myriads of patients who have died during the strike.

     

    • Dr Bolaji,

    UCH, Ibadan.

  • Strike looms in universities over agreement with government

    Another round of industrial action may commence soon in the university sector as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) is  accusing the Federal Government of failing to honour its own part of the agreement entered into with Non-teaching staff of Universities seven weeks after they suspended their strike.
    Rising from its National Executive Council meeting at the Bayero University, Kano, SSANU appealed to well meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to implement all agreements it freely signed with Joint Action Committee of NAAT, NASU and SSANU to avert another round of industrial crisis in our Universities.
    In a communique signed by the National President, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National Public Relations Officer, Abdussobur Salaam, the union also accused the government of fragrantly disobeying judgement of the National Industrial Court judgment on University Staff Schools.
    The union expressed disappointment at the failure of Federal Government to implement some aspects of the 2009 Agreement and other Memoranda of Understanding it freely entered into with University based non- teaching Staff Unions.
    It  warned  that Nigerians should not blame the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NAAT, NASU and SSANU if it resumes the suspended nationwide industrial action, because seven (7) weeks after the last Memorandum of Understanding signed by Government and the Unions, Government has failed to honor its own part of the bargain
    It said further that “it has become the penchant of Government to choose which court judgments to obey and which to disregard. In cases where an attempt is made to obey court judgments, implementation is done selectively and at whim.
    “NEC decries a situation where the union followed legitimate processes to correct an anomaly and after judgment was given, Government chose to treat with contempt and implement in breach, as is the case with University Staff Schools, where various offices of government have issued circulars which run contrary to the decision of the court. It notes that this development is unbecoming of a democratic government supposedly run under the rule of law and the non implementation of court judgments by the government is an invitation to anarchy”.
    The union also expressed concern about the proliferation of Universities and the “rate of approvals granted for the establishments of universities by Government and observed that the establishment of universities have almost become like constituency projects as almost every Senator seems to be sponsoring a bill for the establishment or upgrade of an institution to a University in his or her constituency and that almost every week, the Federal Executive Council approves the establishment of a new University.
    “NEC notes that though the number of universities on ground may have challenges meeting up with the increasing admission needs of the country, the solution is not the proliferation of universities.
    “Government should rather improve the funding and infrastructures of existing universities so as to increase their carrying capacities and the number of students they can admit. Government should also place premium on internal controls to stem the growing tide of corruption in our universities, indiscipline, academic fraud, sex for marks and other ills that have plagued the university system in recent years.”
    On the decision of the Federal Executive Council barring federal universities from charging tuition fees, the union said while the decision is commendable, government must find a way of stopping university management from spreading the fees across other ancillary fees such as Acceptance Fees, Caution Fees, Medical Fees, among others.

  • Strike: JOHESU, NMA bicker

    Striking Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) members are losing sympathy by the day. The refusal of other workers in government-run hospitals to join the strike is making it ineffective. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is also opposed to JOHESU’s demands, report ONYEDI OJIABOR, DUKU JOEL, TONY AKOWE, GBADE OGUNWALE, BOLAJI OGUNDELE and ERNEST NWOKOLO.

    •Fed govt cautions unions

    MORE knocks came yesterday for the leadership of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), whose members have been on strike since April 17.

    The JOHESU leaders were carpeted for coercing non-members of their unions to embark on solidarity strike in order to gain their employers’ attention.

    There were reports that the striking workers have been assaulting workers found on duty. They were also locking up government hospitals in a bid to cripple the health sector and make their action effective.

    JOHESU is demanding an upward adjustment of CONHESS Salary Scale, arrears of skipping of CONHESS 10 and employment of additional health professionals.

    The union is seeking the implementation of court judgments and upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

    But the federal and state governments, as well as concerned Nigerians berated the action of the JOHESU members. They accused them of outstepping their bounds.

     

    Strike: Fed Govt cautions

    JOHESU members

     

    REIN in your members, the Federal Government told the leadership of the striking Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday.

    The warning, issued through the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, came in the wake of reports that JOHESU members were intimidating other health workers for failing to join their nationwide strike.

    Adewole reminded the striking JOHESU members that they have no constitutional right to harass others who have been carrying out their assigned duties in the hospitals and in other public health institutions.

    The minister’s warning was contained in a statement by the Health ministry’s spokesman Oshundun Olajide, who said Prof Adewole was reacting to a news briefing by the President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Dr. Ugochukwu Chinaka.

    He noted that the NARD accused JOHESU members of harassing and molesting its members and other medical officers for showing up at their respective duty posts.

    According to the statement, the minister was also informed that JOHESU members were accused of locking-up public health facilities to prevent access to those who are not on strike.

    Olajide also quoted the minister as saying that the Federal Government would neither accept nor condone any act of irresponsibility and disobedience to constituted authorities.

    The minister has directed the immediate re-opening of all health facilities sealed by JOHESU members to enable them provide required services without jeopardizing on-going negotiation.

    The statement added that Adewole reiterated that all heads of medical institutions should urgently provide adequate security for the workers on duty.

    It warned that any person found disturbing the peace in any health facility should be made to face the law.

    NARD’s First Vice President Dr. Ganiyu Ahmed accused JOHESU members of becoming increasingly aggressive towards other health professional, particularly doctors, who are not on strike.

    He told reporters on April 28 that JOHESU members manhandled a resident doctor on duty at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Awka, Anambra State.

     

    Doctors attend to

    patients in Delta

     

    The doctors on the payroll of government hospitals and other public medical facilities in Warri and environs were at work yesterday.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Central Hospital, Warri, Dr. Paul Okunbor, encouraged members of their public to bring their sick and ailing kinsmen to government hospitals for treatment.

    He told reporters in Warri yesterday that those in need of medical care at the government-owned hospitals were being attended to.

    Explaining that only the JOHESU members in the hospital were observing the industrial action called by its national executive on April 17, the CMD said doctors were on ground to attend to patients.

    He said: “As the medical director of this hospital, you can see that I am on duty attending to patients at the antenatal care. Other consultants are also attending to patients. Though JOHESU is on strike, doctors are not involved. Doctors are rendering services to patients who are coming in.

    “Of course, JOHESU members are part of the hospital and if they are not around, some of those areas may constitute some problems, but we are finding ways to go around it. The hospitals are opened for services, so people should not sit at home and say hospitals are on strike. We are still rendering some services to patients.”

    He said that some wards were not functioning properly because the nurses belong to JOHESU.

    Okunbor said: “As it is now, the nurses are on strike. So, we may not be able to open all the wards for so many reasons, including security. We may also not have enough manpower to use all the wards; that is why we are using few wards.

     

    Ogun NMA slams union

     

    The local chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State condemned the JOHESU leadership for forcing states and local government health workers into the ongoing strike in solidarity with their colleagues the national level.

    It said the JOHESU strike may not serve any good purpose as it would neither add value to patients’ care in the country nor bring about any improvement in health facilities.

    In a statement by its acting Chairman, Abikoye Peters, the Ogun NMA dismissed the strike “ill-guided, anti-doctor, anti-patient and anti-institution.”

    According to it, strike in the health industry has always been associated with loss of lives. He explained that strike should be a bargaining instrument when all other means of getting attention has failed and not means of “wreaking havoc” as threatened by JOHESU.

    Reiterating that Ogun NMA members were not on strike, Peters assured: “All hospitals are open to all patients across the state as doctors are available to attend to their clients promptly.

    “Strikes should be an instrument of bargaining when all other means of getting attention has failed. When a union is pushed into calling strike, the above qualities should be the guiding principles.

    “A union whose headship is boasting of wreaking havoc with strike has failed to demonstrate empathy and far beyond the bounds of true patriotism.

    “Directing states’ and local government’s health workers to join the strike calls for concern, especially in estimating the real motive behind the exercise. Strike in the health industry is associated with irreparable loss of lives. On its merit, this is enough to call for caution while the strike lasts.

    “We identify with every family and home, who have been negatively impacted by the on-going strike. We are not against any cadre of workers agitating for their due pay, but we maintain JOHESU’s strike is adding no value to patients’ care. Neither is it adding any improvement to the facilities.

    “We plead that heads of hospitals and their management team should give all the necessary support, assistance and backups to the doctors at their respective duty posts while mitigating the effect of the on-going strike.”

     

    100% CONHESS

    implementation

    approved in Yobe

     

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam approved greed to 100 per cent implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in his domain.

    The beneficiaries are nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals in the state’s health sector. The approval was to avoid the health workers’ strike.

    Gaidam’s spokesman Abdullahi Bego said in a statement that the implementation was only 70 per cent before the latest approval.

    The Nation learnt that health workers in the state were not part of the on-going strike following negotiations with government which has now come to fruition.

    According to local chairman of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives, Abdul-Azeez Usman, members had been put on the alert pending the outcome of their negotiations with the government.

    “With the ongoing negotiations, we have placed our members on red alert to join the strike if we fail to reach agreements,’’ he told reporters last week in Damaturu, the state capital.

    According to Bego’s statement, the state government will be expending additional N74.4 million monthly to implement CONHESS.

    The statement reads: “Prior to the approval, the CONHESS implementation rate was 70 per cent. The governor has also approved 100 per cent implementation of the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical officers.

    “A submission on the salaries of administrative staff of the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) was also approved by the governor.

    “The total monetary implication of the approvals – which is the differential on the existing salaries being enjoyed by the three groups of beneficiaries – is N74, 335, 339.2 per month.

    “With the state government now implementing CONHESS, CONMESS and YSUTH’s administrative staff salaries 100 per cent, Governor Gaidam has brought the remuneration package in the state’s health sector at par with what obtains in federal government health institutions.”

     

    Ebola: Senate pleads

    with striking workers

     

    The Senate pleaded with JOHESU to call off the over three-week strike.

    The upper chambers’ resolution was sequel to a motion on “Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Need to Take Precautionary Measures” by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) during plenary.

    It urged the ministers of Interior and Health to take necessary steps to check immigration and to ensure alertness to combat whatever cases that might arise and get Ebola vaccines ready for an emergency

    Mrs. Tinubu recalled that an infected immigrant, Mr Patrick Sawyer, who arrived in Nigeria in July 23, 2014, was notable for been the index case for the introduction of Ebola virus into Nigeria.

    The senator, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Environment, said the tide, as at then, was stemmed by quick response of the government.

    She said that recent reports by the World Health Organisation (WHO), showed that the disease was back in neighboring Congo with 19 deaths and 39 infected casualties recorded so far.

    “The WHO states that Nigeria and other African countries are at risk of spread”, the senator noted, adding that unless the hospitals were prepared properly and equipped with Ebola vaccines, it would be an epidemic Nigeria might be unable to take on.

    Contributing, Senate Chief Whip Olusola Adeyeye called on the Senate to intervene for a quick resolution of the ongoing strike by health workers

    Senator Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra) noted: “Prevention of the disease was better than cure. We must ensure that Nigeria is not taken unawares again. We should be on the alert.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said all stakeholders must ensure adequate steps were taken to forestall any occurrence.

     

    Doctors, ministry accused

    of sabotage, insincerity

     

    JOHESU’s National Chairman Biobebelemoye Josiah alerted members of the public on purported efforts by doctors to frustrate ongoing talks to end the four-week-old strike embarked upon by the union.

    Josiah, who raised the alarm when he fielded reporter’s questions in Abuja, also accused the Ministry of Health of collaborating with the doctors in suppressing his union’s legitimate demands.

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had in a statement threatened to withdraw their services across health institutions in the country if the federal government acceded to the demands of JOHESU and other health workers.

    The statement read in part: “The NMA wishes to draw the attention of the Federal Government to our correspondence of April 21, 2014, on the above, in which we reminded the government of the collective bargaining agreement we had with the Federal Government of Nigeria in January 2014.

    “It is also pertinent to once again remind Government about the concluding part of our letter no. NMA/PRE/SG/03/0751 of 21st March 2014, which states, `In view of the above, the NMA painfully wishes to inform the Federal Government of Nigeria that any award to the non-medically qualified health professionals that violates the January and July agreements of 2014 shall result in the resumption of the suspended withdrawal of service of 2014. Please take this as a notice, sir”.

    But the JOHESU however alleged that the two ministers of health were not serious in ending the strike in view of their position in support of the demands of the doctors at the detriment of JOHESU.

    He said: “This very agreement was entered into and then a memo was made to Mr. President as they claimed even though they gave us a copy later.

    “When they made this memo it was in December and the ministry of health defended her budget in February, but did not deem it to include that the amount it worked for the payment or settlement of this very issue.

    “This goes a long way to show that there was dishonesty, insincerity from the beginning on the part of the ministry (Federal Ministry of Health) because most probably the minister is a doctor; minister of state (Health) is a doctor and minister of labour who is supposed to be the chief negotiator, is also a medical doctor.’’

    Last Friday, JOHESU called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene in the ongoing industrial action.

    The National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Ogbonna Chimela, made the call in a chat with State House reporters at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Chimela, who is also the National President of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), said the call was informed by the fact the meeting between the union and the officials of the Federal Ministry of Health had ended in a deadlock as there was no common ground reached to resolve the crisis.

    He, therefore, stated that Buhari’s intervention had become necessary to avert possible collapse of the nation’s health system.

    According to him, the President was being blanketed from vital information concerning the situation in the health sector.

    He said: “From our investigation and from what we know now, we have discovered that our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, has not been well informed of the happenings in the health sector, is like some information are being blanketed; not getting to him because we know whom he is.

    “He is a sincere man who has the love of an average Nigerian at heart. We know that he is humane and he cannot toy with the lives of Nigerians if he is well aware of this present situation in the health sector we know he would go direct in arresting the issue and resolve it.

    “So, we are calling on Mr. President to quickly intervene in this matter because JOHESU and its members are not strike mongers, we don’t love strike.”

     

    PDP: government 

    is insensitive

     

    But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) blamed the Federal Government for failing to dialogue with the striking workers.

    It described President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged refusal to address the ongoing strike action as a clear manifestation of insensitivity to the plight and suffering of Nigerians.

    Lamenting the anguish of hundreds of Nigerians who have been abandoned and dying by the day in public hospitals as a result of the strike, the PDP accused the Buhari administration of not attaching the desired importance to issues affecting the people.

    In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it was the height of insensitivity for the President to embark on frequent medical tourism abroad at a time Nigerians in dire need of medical attention were left to suffer.

    The statement said: “In the PDP, the health, security and welfare of Nigerians remain pivotal to us and that is why we feel pained that compatriots are dying in their numbers because of the refusal of the Buhari-led APC administration to address the health workers’ strike.

    “The PDP, therefore, stands with Nigerians at this critical time. We identify with the sick and those who have lost their loved ones under this present circumstance and urge all public-spirited individuals, humanitarian organisations and the international community to come to the aid of our nation.

    “Furthermore, while we plead with the health workers to be open to ways to solve the problem, we charge Nigerians to support one another and adhere to all health etiquettes to forestall an outbreak of epidemic and health crisis.”

     

    ‘Don’t collect salaries during strike’

     

    To Abdulrasaq Abubakre, a professor of Islamic Studies,, it is against the tenets of Islam to receive salary  for the  period one has not worked.

    Abubakre, who recently retired from the University of Ilorin, spoke with the reporters against the backdrop of JOHESU’s ongoing strike.

    The don said unions should find ways of resolving grievances with their employers rather than resorting to strike.

    He said: “If you pay Zakat on the salary you received and did not work for, you will not receive the intended reward from God.

    “The perspective of Islam is that of trust, trust is very crucial in Islam.  JOHESU members are entrusted with the concern and care of patients across hospitals in Nigeria.

    “Money is important but it is secondary, secondary in the sense that your primary role is to save lives. Health workers must understand that it is God that heals and they must have this at the back of their minds.”

    He also said the country must develop a culture of responsibility and response, urging the government to also be alive to its responsibilities.

    Abubakre condemned JOHESU’s demand for pay parity with medical doctors, describing it as unreasonable.

    The professor, who said the foundation of JOHESU’s strike was weak, urged its leaders to get serious and be reasonable in their negotiations.

    He, however, called on the Federal Government to be proactive and always prevent strikes from happening rather than finding solutions to industrial disputes.

    Abubakre got an ally in Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, who explained that the position of Christianity on receiving salaries for the period one did not work was clear and unambiguous.

    He said: “From the biblical perspective, the scripture is clear; it says he who does not work must not eat. I am sure it is from your salary that you eat from, it is not wise and it is not moral that you expect to be paid for the work you have not done.

    “The scripture also says that when you hire a labourer to work for you, his sweat must not dry up before you pay him. The wages must be commensurate with the work done.”

    Fawenu said, a former Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretary in Kwara State, said health workers must consider the nature of their profession before embarking on strike.

    The cleric said: “These people should know that even though they have grievances, the humane side of them should be able to come to play.

    “Those who are suffering now are not in government; when those in government want to access medical care, they know where to go.”

     

    Ngige to doctors: stop meddling in strike

     

    Labour and employment Minister Chris Ngige urged the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to stay away from the ongoing strike.

    He said the meddlesomeness of the NMA was making it difficult for the government to resolve issues that triggered the JOHESU strike.

    Dr. Ngige, in a statement signed by his ministry’s spokesman 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.

    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.”

     

    Group offers free medical outreach

     

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Jacco’s Charity International, in collaboration with Catholic Youths of Nigeria Holy Trinity Parish, Maitama, Abuja, has deployed its members to offer free medical services.

    It kicked-off the free medical service on Sunday to residents of Gishiri community, Abuja, to cushion the effects of ongoing strike.

    Ambassador Jodie, founder of the charity organisation, which was established in 2012, said the outreach was to support less-privileged, who could not afford medical bills in private hospitals.

    She explained that the outreach at Gishiri, an Abuja Municipal Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) comprised of series of tests, malaria treatment, test and treatment of diabetes, while kids not older than five years received vitamins.

    Jodie said the programme was expected to cover more than 300 people, adding that the outreach was specifically for women and children.

    She appealed to government to do something about the strike “so that more people can have access to good and better healthcare services.

    “Imagine how many people die because of the ongoing strike: I cannot imagine the agony of a woman in labour who goes to hospital and the health workers are not there to attend to her, this is horrible.

    “We are not in support of the strike and we want more people to access quality and affordable health care services.”

    She explained that a team of medical experts from the United States (U.S.) would also join the free medical outreach team to ensure that more people access the health services and appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to support the programme.

    “Our main focus is to reach out to orphans and less privileged persons in the society,” she said.

    Dr. Simeonie Yamiya, one of the medical personnel, said the team discovered that most people in Gishiri community do not go to hospital.

    He added that many people were diagnosed of hypertension and diabetes and urged Nigerians to imbibe the habit of regular medical check-up.

    A beneficiary, Earnest Amor, expressed satisfaction with the services provided and commended the organisers of the programme.

     

     

     

     

  • JOHESU: Doctors threatens strike

    •Strike hits LASUTH, Oyo, • Health workers evict doctors, patients in Delta

    MEDICAL doctors have issued a notice of strike to the Federal Government.

    The doctors, under the umbrella body of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), warned of impending strike should the Federal Government accede to some of the demands of striking health workers.

    The latest threat may compound the crisis in the sector as a result of the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), which has been extended to the states and local councils.

    In a statement yesterday, NMA noted that it opposed any adjustment in salary that could lead to parity between the doctors and other health professionals.

    The statement, which was signed by the association’s President, Dr. Francis Faduyile and Secretary General Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, warned of grievous implication of acceding to any demand that violates collective agreement.

    The statement added: “The NMA painfully wishes to inform the Federal Government that any award to the non-medically qualified health professionals that violates the January and July agreements of 2014 shall result in the resumption of the suspended withdrawal of service. Please take this as a notice sir.”

    The latest development, NMA stated, was as a result of the latest extension of the strike action of JOHESU to states and local councils.

    The union stressed that it opposed any adjustment in salary scale that would result into parity between the doctors and healthcare professionals.

    “NMA wishes to again remind government of the implications of acceding to any demand that violates the collective bargaining agreement of January 2014. Government should take this as a further reminder of the previous notice of April 21, 2018.”

    But support activities at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, were yesterday grounded as JOHESU members joined the strike embarked upon by their counterparts in federal hospitals.

    The national body of JOHESU, on Wednesday, ordered its members in the states and local governments to join the strike.

    A visit to one of the busiest hospitals in Lagos revealed total compliance as the support staff of the institution practically stayed away from work.

    A visit to the departments such as Haematology, Peadiatrics and the administrative complexes shows that the support workers totally complied with the order.

    However, the Chairman, ad hoc Committee on Health, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Olusegun Olulade, who visited the hospital, declined to comment on the industrial dispute.

    On the strike, the Director of Clinical Services, LASUTH, Dr. Adeolu Adedokun, said the industrial dispute was not between the hospital and the striking workers but a directive from their national body.

    There was a drama in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Areas, Delta State, yesterday as some health workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), stormed a government hospital in the area.

    The JOHESU members evicted doctors and patients and later locked the hospital.

    The Nation gathered the members of the union, drove to the hospital in a White Bus on high speed, went into the hospital and ordered health workers from attending to patients.

    It was gathered that the patients and some of their family members, who had come to visit their loved ones, were evicted from the hospital as they watched helplessly despite their pleas to the union members.

    In Oyo State, activities in hospitals were paralysed yesterday by the indefinite strike.

    As early as 7am yesterday, leaders of the union chased their colleagues out of the Oyo State General Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan, as well as other branches.

    The action forced many patients, who had come for medical attention to seek service elsewhere. The General Hospital, Oyo was also deserted by the striking workers.

    The Chairman of the Oyo State branch of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, which is also a member of JOHESU, Comrade Ademola Babalola, told reporters that the strike was indefinite.

    He said: “If the Federal Government accedes to the demands of the federal workers, leaving ours unattended to, the problem will still remain.”

    Babalola explained that his union at the state and local government levels was demanding some welfare packages and administrative streamlining, which the state government had failed to address for years.

     

     

    The demands, he said, are different from those of JOHESU at the national level.

  • Kwara institutions threaten strike

    Committee of the Unions in Tertiary Institutions (CUTI) in Kwara State has given a 21-day ultimatum to the government to clear its backlog of salaries.

    In a letter to Governor Abdufatah Ahmed, the union said the government should pay its 181 per cent June and July salaries owed the College of Education, Ilorin.

    The letter, signed by the Chairman Imam Abdulkadir and Secretary Lawal Omoluabi, reads: “Taking cognisance of the challenges facing the state-owned tertiary institutions which are inimical to development, the committee resolved that the government should release fund for the colleges accreditation; 100 per cent CONPCASS and CONTEDISS should be paid to the colleges without further delay; the government should restore the monthly subvention to the colleges because the quarterly financial intervention has failed to sustain the payment of salaries; the government should ensure prompt monetisation of promotion and regular promotion as well as annual increment.

    “We wish to notify you that the colleges are on national promotion between 2012 and 2015. We reiterate that if these demands are not met within the stipulated time, members of our unions would be left with no other option than to withdraw our services.”

  • FG threatens striking health workers, says return to work now

    The Federal Government said last night that the indefinite strike action embarked upon by health workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions was unjustified, threatening to invoke the relevant labour laws in dealing with the striking workers if they fail to return to their duty post.

    In a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowokore said the government was surprised that the workers embarked strike despite the government keeping faith with the terms of agreement signed between the unions and the government.

    While appealing to the workers to consider the plight of sick Nigerians and return to work, the statement said the government would not fold its hands and watch innocent Nigerians subjected to untold hardship.

    It said that the decision of the health workers to embark on strike was surprising saying “it is surprised that many of the Health Workers Unions operating under the joint group, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) embarked on another round of nationwide strike despite government’s demonstrable commitment to the implementation of the agreement reached with it since their last strike of 20thSeptember 2017.

    ‘At a period the Federal Government is faithfully managing lean resources to ensure industrial harmony in all sectors, a measure of patriotism is expected of all labour unions to enable government have an equable social and very good labour milieu in which workers could be assured of security of employment.

    “It is on record that government has met almost all the demands of these unions on issues such as the payment of promotion arrears, salary shortfalls among others as per the agreement reached on September 30th2017.”

    “The Federal Government therefore wishes to appeal to JOHESU to reconsider its position in view of the immeasurable consequences of its action on sick patients in hospitals across the nation.”

    “While the Federal Government restates its commitment to the implementation of the Terms of Settlement reached with JOHESU, it shall not however fail in its sacred responsibility of protecting the lives of the numerous patients in all public health institutions where this group of health workers have unjustifiably withdrawn their services.

    “If this group of health workers persist on continuing this strike, Government will be forced to invoke the provisions of the relevant labour laws, especially Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap.T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles concerning employers rights over strikes in essential services sector,” the statement concluded.

    Read Also: JOHESU Strike: Health workers shut down UCH

  • 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