Crisis in federal hospitals as nurses, pharmacists, other health workers embark on strike

Federal hospitals across the country have been thrown into a crises situation as nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and other workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Health Section Unions (JOHESU), have commenced an indefinite strike.

The national vice chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, declared the strike after addressing a congress of the union at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife.

The group is demanding that the Federal Government act on the agreement reached with it on the issue of adjustment of Consolidate Health Salary Structure and payment of arrears of CONHESS 10.

According to JOHESU, it had no other option but to resort to the strike to press home their demands since the Federal Government refused to comply with the agreements reached with it when they suspended their last strike on similar issue over six months ago.

Aside upward adjustment of CONHESS, JOHESU also accused government of failing to employ additional health professionals, upwardly review of retirement age from 60 years to 65 as well as refusing to implement a particular court judgment.

Ogbonna frowned that a 21-day ultimatum given to government to act was ignored and that another strike notice of 30 working days to the government fell on deaf ears.

“Consequent upon this, therefore, JOHESU has no other choice than to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike as from the midnight of Tuesday 17th April, 2018, which is the spiraling of the notice of strike.

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“Therefore, JOHESU hereby directs all her members in Federal Health Institutions all over the country to commence the strike immediately (midnight of Tuesday, 17th April, 2018) unfailingly. States and Local Government Health Institutions are by this placed on red alert and are to continue intense sensitisation and mobilisation of our members for possible entry into the fray if the government foot drags in attending to our demands,” Ogbonna said.

The group had earlier in a statement on Monday signed by its national chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah; and its national secretary, Florence Ekpebor, announced that it will be embarking on strike on Tuesday.

 

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