The Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria ended a deadlock in a negotiation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Health.
JOHESU members demanded immediate approval and implementation of the Technical Committee report on Consolidated Health Salary Structure adjustment, payment of COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances, recognition of support health workers in hospital facilities, payment and inculcation of peculiar allowances, immediate and unconditional implementation of the pharmacist consultant cadre, unconditional payment of all withheld salaries, and the speedy implementation of the increase in the retirement age for consultants in the health professions.
The National Salaries Incomes And Wages Commission had an urgent meeting with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to discuss the declaration of a strike. The Minister agreed to take the matter over by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the meeting was adjourned until next week.
Patients at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja and the National Hospital, Abuja, were overwhelmed by patients waiting to be attended to, while some locum staff and interns tried to cushion the effects of the strike.
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals at FMC Jabi is monitoring compliance of its members to the strike. They are not happy that patients are suffering and are pushing for their demands, but nothing has been done. Health services have been scaled down due to the strike.
