Health workers threaten fresh strike on May 8

The relative peace in the nation’s health sector may run into crisis soon if the Joint Health Sector Unions goes ahead with its nationwide strike scheduled for May 8.

The organisation premised its threat on the refusal of the Federal Government to accede to its 15-point demands, while several efforts to meet President Goodluck Jonathan have yielded no positive response.

The organisation therefore offered a last reminder to meet the President, warning that everything should be done by stakeholders to avert the impending strike.

The Vice President of JOHESU and President of National Union of Allied Health Professionals, Mr. Felix Faniran, issued the threat on Tuesday in a directive to the union’s members nationwide.

He said, “Dear all, kindly refer to the outcome of the last JOHESU leaders meeting, which was held on Thursday April 23 at Abuja as a follow-up to the earlier meeting of April 14, where a decision was taken to request an audience to see Mr. President for immediate implementation of our 15-point demands as promised by Mr. President to the union’s leadership when he met us on February 1.

 “Since there was no response, it was further resolved that a reminder be sent to Mr. President to meet our demands on or before April 30. Should this fail, the leaders shall meet on May 1 and declare a nationwide industrial strike with effect from May 8, 2015. It is hoped that everything possible shall be done to avert the impending strike.”

The PUNCH recalls that JOHESU suspended its over two-month strike on February 2 following a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.

The action commenced on November 12, 2014 over government’s refusal to implement its agreement concerning welfare for health workers.

The National President of JOHESU and now President of Nigeria Labour Congress  Dr. Ayuba Wabba, had said Jonathan had pleaded for time to review their demands with a promise to implement them accordingly.