Johesu Members Resume Work In UPTH

The Joint Health Sector
Union (JOHESU) members working in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Choba, Port Harcourt (UPTH) resumed duty yesterday following the suspension of the union’s nationwide strike action by its national body.
Speaking to The Tide at Choba on Wednesday, the branch chairman of the union, Comrade Christian  Awobe, said, the union has received the national circular directing members of the union in the  UPTH and Primary health care  on situations in the state to resume duty without further delay.
Awobe said, based on the directive of the union’s national Executive, the branch held its congress on Wednesday and resolved to comply with the National directive for all its members to resume duty.
He enjoined UPTH management not to victimize members  of the  union for embarking on the three months strike stressing that the union will always protect the welfare of its members and ensure  that necessary working infrastructures are put in place in all healthcare institutions across the country.
However, the union has called off its nationwide three months strike on Monday based on what it considered as national interest.
The chairman of the union comrade Ayuba Wabba who announced this during a press briefing in Abuja,  said that the  union’s suspension of the strike action followed president Goodluck  Jonathan’s personal intervention.
Waba said the President had promised to resolve issues that led to the strike.
The union demands included implementation of Presidential Committee report on harmony in the health sector, promotion of health professionals  from CONHESS 14 to 15 and request  to implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Committee Report.
Others were the review of the retirement age from 60 to 65 years and reconstitution  of Boards of Federal teaching and  specialist hospitals with equitable representation of  union and professional institutions.
The Tide investigation revealed that Johesu comprised the Medical and Health Workers Union  of Nigeria (MHWUN) National Association of Nigeria Nurse and midwives (NANNM) and  senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals.
Others are research Institutes and Associated Institutions, Nigeria Union of Pharmacists, Medical Technologists and Professionals allied to medicine  and Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU).

Philip Okparaji