Health Workers Suspend Strike

The nationwide strike embarked upon by the Joint Health
Sector Union, has been suspended by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the
union.

A statement released to newsmen  and signed by the union’s National President,
Comrade Felix Faniran said the union would resume negotiation with the Federal
Government to salvage the health sector.

It said the Join Health Sector Union (JOHESU) had given the
Federal Government July 31, as deadline to meet the union’s demands in the
interest of industrial peace in the health sector.

“In view of the above conditions  and the need to minimise the sufferings of
Nigerians the union’s leadership hereby suspend the strike action till July 31
to enable the Federal Ministry of Health and other agencies meet our demands,”
it said.

Members of JOHESU nationwide had embarked on an indefinite
strike on 7th May over non-implementation of the CONHESS 10 salary scale, the
National Health Bill, non-implementation of the Presidential Committee’s report
on harmony in the health sector, non promotion of health professionals from
CONHESS 14 to 15  grade levels.

Other grievances of the union include the non- payment of
consultancy/specialised allowances, call/shift due allowance and other
professional allowance to the health sector workers.

Also the leadership of JOHESU wants the federal government
to implement the 2008 job evaluation committee’s report, reconstitute  the Management Board of the Teaching and
other tertiary hospitals, the immediate review of retirement age of health
workers and the appointment of professionals as Ministers of Health.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of National Association of
Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNAM), Comrade Meg Orianwo has said members of
the union in the state would comply with the national directive to resume work
immediately.

She told The Tide that the directive to embark on the strike
was national “now that the national has directed the suspension of the strike,
our members will comply without delay in the interest of the suffering messes
and the health sector,” she declared.