Gentlemen of the Press,

It will be recalled that the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Professional Associations (AHPA) have been patiently engaged with the Federal Government in negotiation over issues in dispute since 2010 when a memorandum was presented to the Federal Government which led to the setting up of Abdullahi Bello Presidential Committee which sat between 2010 and 2011.

On the 10th of May 2012, an agreement was signed between the Federal Ministry of Health and JOHESU over five (5) important issues namely:

i. Reconstitution of Boards of Management of Tertiary Health Institutions.

ii. Promotion of our members from CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors in line with extant schemes of service.

iii. Increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

iv. Implementation of 2008 Job Evaluation Reportmedicalworldnigeria.com

v. Implementation of Abdullahi Bello Presidential Committee report on harmony in the Health Sector.

vi. Implementation of Collectively bargained agreement.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in a landmark judgement of July 2013 vindicated our position on a number of other issues which were referred to it by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity after the Honourable Minister of Health had refused to accede to our demands.

The Court among other things ordered Government to meet with JOHESU to conclude negotiations as provided for in the 2009 Collective Agreement; restore skipping of CONHESS 10 salary and consultancy status as well as payment of specialist allowance to deserving members of our Unions and Associations.

Accordingly, JOHESU after repeated appeals commenced negotiations with Government since September, 2013; but to our greatest shock and amazement, Government in a volte face yesterday said it was unable to sign and honour the collective bargained issues because of the threat by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to proceed on strike action if Government acceded to our legitimate demands and painstakingly negotiated entitlements.

We had negotiated desirable adjustment to the 2009 CONHESS Salary Table and allowances as was done for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in January 2014. Ironically, Government reneged because of the threat by the NMA. This is provocative, insulting and unjust in the worst dimension in a democratic dispensation. Our members are being subjected to discrimination and industrial marginalisation in the Health Sector in favour of members of the Nigerian Medical Association which is operating illegally, even though it is not a registered trade union.

JOHESU wishes to place on record, its appreciation of the efforts and interest showed by His Excellency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity and the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in seeing to it that the issues in dispute were resolved amicably. Unfortunately, the attitude of the Honourable Minister of Health, who has demonstrated serious bias in favour of his colleagues in NMA has frustrated their honest and patriotic efforts at resolving the issues in contention.

Without fear or favour, it must be said that the Honourable Minister of Health must be blamed for the pending industrial action by the JOHESU/AHPA.

It is on this premise; we reiterate once more that since the Minister has continued to demonstrate bias in handling agitations by the JOHESU/AHPA, we hereby call on Mr. President to further intervene to avert the impending crises in the Health Sector.

In the light of the above development, JOHESU is constrained to issue a 15-day ultimatum to Government to release appropriate circulars to give effect to all the negotiated issues, failing which our members will proceed on an indefinite total withdrawal of services from 8.00a.m on the 19th of May, 2014.

For the avoidance of doubt, the following are the demands of JOHESU/AHPA: www.medicalworldnigeria.com

i. Correction of lopsidedness in the constitution of the Boards of Management of various health institutions, non-invitation of some appointed members of JOHESU to the Board meetings and outright exclusion of NASU in any of the Boards;

ii. Increase in Retirement Age of Health Workers from 60 to 65years

iii. Promotion of Officers from CONHESS 14 to 15 as Directors

iv. Circularization of Proper Placement of Intern Medical Laboratory Scientists on CONHESS 8.

v. Implementation of Skipping of CONHESS 10 and payment of its accrued arrears.

vi. Issuance of Circular on Consultancy for other Health Professionals.

vii. Issuance of Circular for Payment of Specialist Allowance to Deserving Officers.

viii. Withdrawal of Circular on the illegal appointment of Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee in tertiary hospitals.

ix. Immediate release of circular to give effect to the collectively bargained Adjustment of the CONHESS Salary and call duty allowance as it was done for other group in the health sector.

x. Appointment of CMDs/MDs of Teaching Hospitals. Consideration of Permanent Staff of Hospitals rather than only University-based personnel.

xi. Proper advertisement of vacancies for Appointment of CMDs/MDs in line with the extant law establishing teaching hospitals/Federal Medical Centres. Thank you.

For and on behalf of Union & Association Leaders www.medicalworldnigeria.com

 

Signed.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba mni

Chairman

Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)

 

Dr. Godswill C. Okara

Chairman 

Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA)