JOHESU suspends strike but no relief yet for medical sector as doctors threaten own action

Just as the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) announced the suspension of its six-week-old nationwide strike, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says it may embark on own strike over the federal government’s failure to facilitate the reinstatement of its sacked colleagues.

In suspending its industrial action, JOHESU ordered all its members to resume work on Monday, June 4.

The directive was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the national executive council meeting of JOHESU and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) in Abuja.

The communiqué read in part, “The various gains from the meetings with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, were presented to the NEC of JOHESU, after exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six-week old strike be suspended this day Thursday, May 31, 2018 because of the sympathy the unions have for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday, June 4, 2018.”

On its part, NARD, through Ugochukwu Eze, its publicity and social secretary, said Thursday at a press conference in Kaduna that the union was mulling a strike action.

Eze said the 21-day ultimatum issued for the reinstatement of their sacked colleagues by the University of Jos Teaching Hospital expires on May 31.

He said the first ultimatum issued on the matter expired on May 2, and was extended by another three weeks to give room for proper dialogue.

“At the end of the meeting held on March 27, a 30-day ultimatum was issued starting from April 2, 2018, which elapsed on May 2,” he said.

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“12 days after the expiration of the ultimatum, at the ordinary general meeting held in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria from 5th-11th May, 2018, the ultimatum was extended by 21 days to allow the government to effect recall of all sacked resident doctors in JUTH.

“It may also interest the general public to know that the members of Joint Health Sector Workers Union (JOHESU) have been on strike for the past 44 days.

“Healthcare in the country has been anchored upon the shoulders of resident doctors, mainly (NARD), being the largest single body of doctors in Nigeria.”

According to Eze, the doctors also want the government to meet up with all outstanding agreements contained in the September 6, 2017 terms of settlement entered with the government.

“The September 2017 strike was suspended to allow government complete implementation of the terms of settlement but there are still unmet agreements,” he said.

“NARD leadership may not be able to guarantee continuous industrial harmony should our legitimate agitations be ignored by government.”

Eze said the association had exhausted all labour engagement requirements to help solve the problem in JUTH through extensive advocacy channels.

 

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