Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) will commence strike 13th March if FG fails its promises on DWNUPDATE

Per adventure the Federal Government fails to speedily meet their demands by March 13, health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) will proceed with their planned industrial action, which was suspended last Thursday.

JOHESU put the strike on hold till March

13 when it will meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. In a telephone chat with The Guardian yesterday, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo, said:

“We have not called off the strike; we

have only suspended the strike.

“We want government to show

commitment to the resolutions and move with the speed of light in meeting them.

We want them to issue regular circulars.

If they have not implemented the

resolutions to our satisfaction, we will go back to strike.”

In a statement jointly signed by Akintayo and JOHESU Chairman, Wabba Ayuba, the body added: “Other issues include receiving encouraging attention from the SGF with a view to meeting them before the next meeting. In line with the above, the pending strike is hereby put on hold.

The resolutions at the February 6

meeting at the instance of the SGF

included: (i) The Minister of Health

liaising with the boards of management

of all federal health institutions through

the director of hospital services with a

view to correcting existing lopsidedness

in any affected facility; and (ii) The SGF

liaising with the Head of Service of the

Federation for a feedback on the position of the National Council on Establishment with respect to retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years.

Towards this end, all member-unions at

the federal health institutions should

demand full implementation of these

circulars and give a feedback within two

weeks to enable JOHESU know the

position(s) of the management of the

hospitals on the matter, among others.

Meanwhile, the nationwide strike by the

Academic Staff Union of Research

Institutions (ASURI) is paralysing

activities at the National Veterinary

Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, near Jos.

ASURI began nationwide indefinite

action last Monday to compel the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with the union.

NVRI Branch Chairman, Dr. Isaac Ago,

told newsmen in Jos at the weekend that

the industrial action was total and that no member of the union would work, adding that the union wanted immediate release of conditions and schemes of service as negotiated with relevant ministries and agencies for the past nine years.

The strike, if not urgently addressed,

would have overwhelming negative

effect on veterinary activities as in the

case of NVRI because, “NVRI is the only

research institute in Nigeria that researches on all aspects of animals,

including laboratory animals, their diseases, control and preventive

measures.