Health workers begin strike, demand minister's sacking

The Joint Health Workers' Union on Tuesday
declared an indefinite strike action in all
tertiary health institutions in the country,
beginning from today (Wednesday).
The action followed the expiration of a 21-
day ultimatum issued to the Minister of
Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, by the
workers.
The workers had asked the minister to
implement the agreement he had reached
with them, which was also ratified by a
recent ruling of the National Industrial Court.
The strike commences by midnight today,
while health workers in the state and local
government health facilities would join at
midnight of August 28.
The union, while apologising to Nigerians
for the difficulties they might face during
the strike, also called for the immediate
removal of Chukwu, saying he should be
held responsible for the problems in the
sector.
The National President of the union, Dr.
Ayuba Wabba, said, "At a meeting called by
the Minister of Labour and Productivity on
Monday, August 19, 2013, the health
minister or his representative refused to
attend show up.
"Consequently, upon the expiration of the
ultimatum, members of JOHESU in federal
tertiary health institutions were directed to
proceed on an indefinite strike with effect
from midnight of August 21, 2013, while
our members at the state and local
government levels shall join as from
midnight of August 28, 2013.
"While we sincerely apologise the
inconveniences this action may cause
Nigerians, the Minister of Health, Prof.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, should be held
responsible."
Wabba recalled that the labour minister had
referred some of the contentious issues that
the parties could not agree upon to the NIC
in June, 2012.
They included non-skipping of Salary
CONHESS 10, National Health Bill, Consultancy
and Specialist Allowances and Call/Shift Duty
and other professional allowances.
"After 13 months of adjudication, the NIC, in
a landmark judgment delivered on Monday,
July 22, 2013, on the dispute between
JOHESU and the Federal Ministry of Health
earlier referred to it by the Minister of
Labour and Productivity, ruled, among other
things, that skipping of CONHESS 10 is legal
and the purported circular by the Ministry of
Health and Head of Service of the Federation
stopping it is illegal, null, void and of no
effect whatsoever.
"The implication of the above position of the
court is that members would continue to
enjoy skipping of CONHESS 10; that those
earlier appointed as consultants would
continue to enjoy the status with all the
benefits and the withdrawal of their letters
of appointment is irregular, null and void;
and that the issue of shift duty,
administrative non-clinical and call duty
allowances should remain as they are, but
that negotiation should commence towards
an agreement on upward review of the
allowances.
"Also, the NIC held that issues already agreed
upon were accrued rights and should be
implemented without delay, in line with
collective bargaining agreement," Wabba
explained.
The Minister of Health could not be reached,
as his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Dan
Nwomeh, promised to respond to the
issues.
However, as of 9pm on Tuesday, he had yet
to do so.


Source: punchng