Health workers strike enters 3rd days today

The nationwide indefinite strike by the
Joint Health Sector Unions which commenced midnight Sunday September 13, enters its third day today without move by the government to negotiate with the workers.
Due to the deadlock with the Federal Government, the Joint Health Sector Unions on Saturday has said it will proceed with its strike with effect from Sunday midnight, September 13, 2020.
This was the decisions reached after its expanded National Executive Council meeting held Saturday.
JOHESU leaders, at the end of its meeting with government representatives, including the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora, were given Saturday September 12 to report back to the government’s negotiation team.
But JOHESU in a three paragraph letter dated September 12 with ref. No. HO/JOHESU/ADM/FMoH/VOL.I/58, entitled: “Re: Notice of 15-day ultimatum/outcome of JOHESU expanded NEC meeting”, agreed to proceed on strike.
In a memo sent to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and signed by JOHESU President, Biobelemoye Josiah; Secretary-General, Dr. Silas Adamu; President of Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, Dr. Benjamin Akintola; General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, Martin Egbanubi, among others.
The document reads, “You would recall that at the end of the meeting held in your office on Thursday September 10 2020, JOHESU demanded that the outcome of the meeting between JOHESU and the Federal Government be reported back to our expanded NEC meeting and give a feed back to the Federal government within 48 hours.
“In the light of the above, the meeting of our expanded NEC was held today, Saturday September 12 2020. And at the end of the meeting, which was held both physically and virtually, it was unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the said meeting with the Federal Government, that the strike notice is still germane and alive.
“Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists and with effect from midnight of Sunday September 13 2020, our members shall withdraw their services due to Federal Government inability to meet their demands. Kindly accept the assurances of our high esteem.”
The President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Adetunji Abdulrafiu said that nothing would stop the indefinite strike unless the government answer the health workers.
He lamented that the government has failed to answer any of their requests, whereas the same government is always ready to answer the medical doctors anytime they go on strike.