Health workers begin strike on Wednesday

The Joint Health Sector Unions, a conglomerate of several health care associations in Nigeria will on Wednesday begin an indefinite strike over the union’s claim that the Federal Government has refused to implement all contentious agreements. The strike follows the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum, which it handed down to government at the end of its meeting in Abuja. The threat came barely 24 hours after JOHESU had announced that government had issued a circular that other health professionals would henceforth be entitled to be called consultants. The union in the communique signed by its Chairman, Ayuba Wabba, and Secretary, W.G. Yusuf-Badmus, described government’s attitude as “filibustering.” The contentious issues between JOHESU and government include non-promotion of its members from salary CONHESS 14-15 as directors having stayed for 4-15 years on the same salary level without promotion in most federal tertiary hospitals; immediate release of circular on adjustment of salary since January 2014 and immediate payment of at least two months arrears while the remaining is paid after being accommodated in the 2015 budget. Others are payment of arrears of specialist allowance to qualified hospital-based professionals, with effect from January 1, 2010, in line with the National Industrial Court of Nigeria’s ruling and non-release of harmonised scheme of service for nurses and midwives.