Sigh of relief as health workers call off strike action

“After exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six-week old strike (of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU) 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.”
With these words the JOHESU, Thursday called off its 45-day-old excruciating strike action that is believed to have led to death of many Nigerians..
The directive to members of JOHESU was contained in a communiqué issued after the end of the National Executive Council meeting of the union and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations in Abuja.
The union berated the federal government for not meeting its demands which included the adjustment of CONHESS salary as done for CONMESS since 2014, and abolition of scale to scale promotion, payment of outstanding arrears of promotion, skipping and relativity.
Others are autonomy of Teaching and Specialist Hospitals, non-implementation of court judgments, review of retirement age from 60-65 years as done for the Tertiary Education Sector.
JOHESU’s Chairman, Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, added that suspension of the strike followed the intervention of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who displayed a high level of statesmanship and sincerity of purpose.
“Saraki has put machinery in place with a view to permanently resolve the issues in contention.
“JOHESU considered Saraki’s intervention after holding just two meetings with the leadership, where serious progress was made and the gains presented to NEC of JOHESU after exhaustive deliberations,” he said.