Health Workers Shelve Planned Strike

Items distributed during the launch of mdgs economic empowerment and conditional cash transfer programme in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: NAN

The National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday said it has postponed its earlier plan to commence an indefinite strike on September 30 and October 8 till further notice
Members of NUAHP include Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Radiographers/Imaging Scientists, Dental Technologists, Occupational Therapists, Health Information Officers, Dental Therapists, Dietitians and Related Professionals.
The union’s position was contained in a memo to all members of its National Administrative Council, National Executive Council, all state council chairmen/Secretaries and all unit branch chairmen/Secretaries entitled: “Postponement of intended strike” with ref. No. NUAHP/NGS/Members/Vol.1/14.
The memo signed by the chairman of NUAHP and Vice Chairman, JOHESU, Mr. Felix Faniran, was made available to newsmen in Abuja.
“The strike notices by both NUAHP and JOHESU which could have taken off on September 30 and October 8, 2014, respectively, have not been suspended but postponed until a meeting called by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for Friday, October 3 2014.
“The meeting where a decision on whether to go on strike or not would be taken was shifted to Thursday, October 9, 2014 at our instance due to Ileya Festival/holidays. By that time, the meeting would have been attended and its outcome assessed by the JOHESU/AHPA leaders; then, a new pronouncement shall be made. Please, wait until further notice.”
The group had, among other demands, condemned the decision of the Federal Ministry of Health that only those registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria could use the designation ‘Consultant’, stressing that “it is not only a ruse, it is false, incorrect, wrong and unacceptable.”
“The Circular of July 18, 2014, issued and signed by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, is improper and unauthorized. The same circular contains paragraph 1.1 which is contradicted by 1.iv. That circular is null and void and highly contemptuous of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria judgment of July 22, 2013 and should therefore be withdrawn immediately in the interest of justice and industrial peace,” Faniran had stressed.
To put an end to crisis in the health sector, NUAHP recommended that government should allow same playing field for all health workers, rather than discriminatory practices.
Faniran had said, “The Nigerian Medical Association and similar unregistered bodies should desist from illegal strikes and learn to comply with laws of the nation and relevant directives; the Yayale Ahmed Committee should conclude its assignment soonest and its report should be implemented immediately; an all-encompassing stakeholders forum should be conveyed under impartial arbiters to solve all existing conflicts in the health sector. Team spirit and team work should be embraced by all health workers and patients’ interest, rather than self interest hound be taken into account at all time.”