Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA) have suspended their seven-day warning strike, effective from midnight, October 31.
This decision, the workers said was made in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the general public interest.
The strike, which began on October 25, was called to press home the union’s demands from the Federal Government. The demands include the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears, and payment of nine months’ salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies.
The body is also looking for the restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions, and commencement of the process to upwardly review the retirement age of health workers, among others.
Following an emergency meeting of the Expanded National Executive Council (NEC), the union have decided to suspend the strike.
According to the National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr Kabiru Minjibir, the decision to suspend the strike was taken after appraising the various reports and the MoU signed between the JOHESU team and the Federal Government team during a conciliation meeting held on October 29.
The communiqué of the meeting reads, “NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike effective from midnight, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the general public interest.
“Time line of six weeks given to the Federal Government to meet all her obligations contained in the MoU.
“Expanded NEC meeting shall be convened upon the expiration of the six (6) weeks’ deadlines to review development and take appropriate decisions.
“Indefinite strike action shall be the next option if the Expanded NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the Federal Government responses to the implementation of her obligations contained in the MoU,” it said.
