Health Workers Issue Ultimatum Over Demands

Despite the loss of lives recorded in Federal Medical Centres and Teaching Hospitals as a result of patients being unattended to during the strike action called by the Joint Unions in Federal Hospitals throughout the country few weeks ago, the Joint Unions have once again issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.

The Joint unions under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) issued the ultimatum to the Federal Government to address pending labour issues with the unions.

The unions are demanding the implementation of 2012 collective agreement reached between the government and unions in the health sector.

The Tide investigation revealed that the public and workers alike had raised fear of another possible industrial action in the federal hospitals and teaching hospitals if the government fails to meet the unions.

The statement of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) decried victimisation and discrimination of members of the unions and appointment of substantive Chief Medical Directors of some of the Federal Health Institutions yet to be appointed.

A communique issued by stated that a fresh 15-day ultimatum was issued to the Federal Ministry of Health following a review of the labour related issues during a meeting by the unions, stressing that the ultimatum was given to the Federal Ministry of Health to implement the agreement or face indefinite industrial action in all Federal Health Institutions nationwide.

The unions said it reviewed its relationship with the Federal Ministry of Health with reference to the unions 10 point demand first presented to the Honourable Minister of Health on 26th September, 2011.

The communiqué noted that the 10 point demand which include “skipping of consolidation Health Sector Salary structure (CONHESS) adjustment in salary grade of promoted staff, non-payment of specialist allowance, issues of consultancy status for allied health professionals and call duty allowance re-negotiation were referred to the National Industrial Court by the Minister of Labour and Productivity since September 2012 for adjudication.

The unions communiqué stated that since September 2012 when the case commenced at the National Industrial Court Abuja, the Federal Ministry of Health has been causing unnecessary delay through unjustifiable and incessant adjournments purposely to dampen the morale of the unions members nationwide.

However, JOHESU comprises Medical and Health Workers Unions of Nigeira (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Mid-wives (NANNM), Nigerian Union of Pharmacists Medical Laboratory Scientists and Professional Allied Medicine (NUPMTPAM), Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

Meanwhile, members of the public have continued to bemoan the frequent strike action by unions in the health sector, stressing that such industrial unrest had negative impact on the public. Speaking to The Tide, Engr Kenneth Ihekwoaba said he recently lost his wife on March 12, 2013 due to the strike action embarked upon by the members of the Joint Unions at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Choba.

He alleged that his wife was left unattended to by medical personnel and also accused medical doctors  that performed the caesarian operations on her few days before her untimely death.