MINISTER of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has faulted leaders of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) over the three-day warning strike in Federal Government-owned hospitals nationwidewhich they embarked upon on Wednesday December 21, 2011, saying they acted unfairly.
Chukwu said the strike was over a number of matters on which the Federal Government has already taken a final decision or is in the process of doing so, having only last month received the report of the Presidential Committee on Industrial Harmony in the Health Sector.
According to him, “a careful scrutiny of their grievances, as contained in their releases indicates that there is either a demand for what was not provided for in Extant Government Circulars and Regulations or for what requires a review of relevant laws and regulations by the appropriate agencies and organs of government.
“While this is on-going, it is unfair for the leaders of JOHESU to call out their members to embark on any form of strike, especially as they were very well represented in the presidential committee that was set up in August last year and has only just submitted its report.”
Chukwu, in a statement signed by his Senior Technical Assistant (Policy and Human Resources for Health), Dr. Alex Onoyona, commended all the staff who refrained from the strike for the sense of humanity, understanding and patriotism they have exhibited, urging all those on strike to return to work.
He urged all chief medical directors and medical directors of the affected hospitals to use appropriate administrative procedures to handle breaches of the Public Service Rules and regulations and to always ensure protection of all the staff and patients in their charge.
Medical workers in government-owned hospitals nationwide on Wednesday began a three-day warning strike to demand, among other things, promotion of stagnated healthcare professionals on the post of deputy directors on a salary grade level 16 to position of director with salary grade level 17 in accordance with the various schemes of service approved by the National Council on Establishments since 2000.
Other demands ranged from payment of specialists allowance, immediate withdrawal of the circular seeking to downgrade health professionals, and harmonisation of call duty allowance, amongst others.
The warning strike was called by the JOHESU comprising Medical Health Workers Union (MHWUN), Non Academic Staff Union of Teaching Hospital (NASU), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Teaching Hospitals and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Nigerian Union of Pharmacists and Medical Scientists and Professionals Allied to Medicine (NUPMTPAM).
