JOHESU Demands Equal Treatment For Health Workers, Threatens Strike

The Joint Well being Sector Unions (JOHESU) has known as on the Federal Authorities to make sure equal therapy for all healthcare employees, demanding the rapid implementation of long-overdue agreements, together with wage changes and improved working situations.

In a communiqué issued on the finish of ts management assembly held in Abuja, JOHESU expressed frustration over the federal government’s delay in fulfilling key agreements outlined within the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 29, 2024.

Among the many union’s main calls for is the adjustment of the Consolidated Well being Wage Construction (CONHESS) to align with the repeated increments within the Consolidated Medical Wage Construction (CONMESS) for medical doctors.

JOHESU decried the shortage of parity in wage changes, noting that whereas CONMESS was revised a number of occasions between 2017 and 2023, no effort was made to evaluation CONHESS since 2014.

JOHESU additionally urged the federal government to implement the appointment of Marketing consultant Pharmacists in Federal Well being Establishments (FHIs), a directive that has been ignored by many Chief Medical Administrators. The union insisted that sanctions must be imposed on establishments failing to conform.

The communiqué additional demanded the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to increase the retirement age of all well being employees to 65 years and 70 years for consultants, rejecting makes an attempt to restrict the brand new retirement age to solely particular teams of well being employees, insisting on uniform utility throughout the sector.

The Union’s key calls for embrace Cost of seven months’ arrears from the 2023 CONHESS wage evaluation and Rapid suspension of the proposed Nationwide Well being Facility Regulatory Company (NHFRA), which JOHESU argues may create industrial disharmony.

Others embrace withdrawal of the “illegal” Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Commonplace Working Procedures (SOP), which JOHESU says contradicts the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022. Cost of name obligation allowances for well being professionals on name and common session with JOHESU on healthcare insurance policies affecting employees’ welfare.

The assembly was attended by the Minister of State for Well being and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, alongside prime ministry officers. JOHESU acknowledged his go to as an indication of dedication however insisted that pressing motion is required to forestall industrial unrest.

JOHESU warned that if the federal government fails to handle these grievances promptly, it may result in additional disruptions within the well being sector. It reaffirmed its dedication to pursuing its calls for via dialogue however didn’t rule out the opportunity of industrial motion if essential