In a bid to avert the planned nationwide strike action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), the Federal Government has revealed that it would hold a meeting with the Union tomorrow.
According to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, the two parties shall discuss all issues raised.
JOHESU, on Friday September 3, 2021, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands; else, it shall embark on indefinite strike action.
Among the JOHESU demands are: adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES) as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since 2014, payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries, withheld Salaries of members in Federal Medical Center, Owerri, JUTH and LUTH, the review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement, Hazard Allowance, implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals.
Others are payment of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantee fairness and justice to all concerned, payment of actual 30 per cent consolidated basic shift duty allowance to Nurses/Midwives and others, payment of teaching allowance to members on CONHESS 7 and 8 (Nurses, Midwives and others) and proper placement of Nurse Graduates and Interns, payment of outstanding salaries of intern health professionals and all the Tertiary Health Institutions, among others.
