The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals has given the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to address unresolved welfare issues, warning that members will initiate industrial action if their demands are not met.
The unions have announced plans to resume their suspended strike on October 25 if their requests go unaddressed.
This information was conveyed in a memo to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, dated October 9, 2024, titled “Notice of 15-Day Ultimatum and Resumption of Suspended Strike Action.”
JOHESU consists of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions, and Associated Institutions, along with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
The memo, signed by JOHESU’s National Chairman Kabiru Minjibir and National Secretary Martin Egbanubi, outlines the persistent unresolved issues, which had previously led to a strike from May 19 to June 6, 2023, that was suspended following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
The unions’ grievances include the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, similar to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure implemented since January 2, 2014, establishing a consultant cadre for pharmacists in Federal Health Institutions, increasing the retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 for Consultants, and ensuring payment for JOHESU members in professional regulatory councils.
Additional demands include the settlement of arrears from the CONHESS review, a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, prompt payment of COVID-19 hazard allowances to excluded health workers, suspension of the planned establishment and operations of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency, and withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures.
The unions further insist on the immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, prompt payment of 25% of the CONHESS review arrears, nine months’ salary (January to September 2024) for Regulatory Agency staff, and restoration of funding for the Environmental Health Regulatory Council. They also seek the reconstitution of Boards and Governing Councils for Federal Health Institutions, initiation of retirement age review for health workers through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to the Federal Executive Council, a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, prompt payment of COVID-19 hazard allowances to excluded health workers, and withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures. Additionally, they demand the implementation of approved entry point, call duty, and other allowances for holders of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
“Consequently, arising from the unanimous resolution of JOHESU Expanded National Executive Council at a hybrid meeting held on 2nd October 2024, and in compliance with the provisions of Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act Cap.T8 LFN, 2004, JOHESU is constrained to give the Federal Government of Nigeria 15 days ultimatum with effect from Thursday, 10th October 2024, and to inform you that with effect from midnight of Friday, October 25, 2024, all our members in the Federal Health Institutions shall embark on seven days strike action.
“However, if at the end of the seven-day warning strike, the Federal government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU has no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.
“Honourable Minister Sir, you will agree with us that JOHESU has always exhibited maturity, selflessness, and patriotism even in the face of extreme provocations and the government’s long delay in meeting these demands of workers under JOHESU and we think that our maturity and patriotism have been taken for granted.
“This 15-day ultimatum is necessitated by the non-response of the Federal Government to the plight of our members, despite our benevolence,” the memo added.
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