Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has appealed to the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to call off their strike in the interest of the public and the health emergencies triggered by covid-19.
Mr Ehanire during the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday had urged the JOHESU leadership to halt the industrial action and instead, go into negotiation with the government to have their demands met.
In a meeting between JOHESU and the government on Thursday, things had ended in a deadlock; leading to the health worker’s decision to down tools on Monday September 14,2020.
It was reported that the union said it would commence a nationwide seven-day warning strike if the government fails to satisfy it demands, which includes payment of hazard and inducement allowance, by midnight of Sunday, September 13,2020.
JOHESU however said the warning strike will only involve federal institutions while the states and local government health institutions would be “on a red alert for possible entry into the fray if the federal government foot-drags in attending to their stated demands.”
Meanwhile, the labour minister, Chris Ngige, in a statement titled, ‘FG declares JOHESU strike is unnecessary, ill-timed and illegal’ had questioned the legality of the union’s decision to lead off a strike.
The minister further expressed regrets that the medical examiners downed tools, saying he had “apprehended the dispute” with the conciliation initiated last Thursday, which was still ongoing.
