The Joint Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (JOHESU) has called off the strike it embarked upon on Wednesday, Augugust 21 to push for improved welfare of the workers, just as the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said  yesterday that the Federal Government would abide by the judgement of the National Industrial Court on health workers’ demands.

 

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu announced the suspension of the strike on Tuesday night in Abuja, after a 12-hour closed-door meeting with the union leaders.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the end of the meeting, a five-page Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Federal Government and representatives of the union.

 

Wogu said the strike was suspended based on an agreement reached between the Federal Government and the union.

 

“We have reached an understanding after a lengthy deliberation which started yesterday (Tuesday)and we resumed at 8 O’clock in the morning today (yesterday).

 

“We were able to reach an understanding which has been signed and based on that understanding the unions have agreed to suspend the strike which was embarked upon,“ he said.

 

The President of JOHESU, Dr Ayuba Wabba, said the union decided to suspend the strike based on the agreement it had with the federal government.

 

 

Addressing newsmen on the suspended strike yesterday, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the minister said that as a government that had respect for the rule of law, the Federal Government had no alternative than to implement the judgment of the court.

 

Chukwu told newsmen that “while this implementation (of the court ruling) is going on, it does not stop government from pursuing any other issues in the court of law.

 

“But the important thing is that it gets the workers back to work and ensures that Nigerians and other residents within Nigeria and even visitors are availed of the services of health care professionals.

 

He said while the implementations were going on, the authorities would continue to negotiate with the health workers on other areas where compromise had not been reached, or where necessary, file an appeal.

 

Chukwu said the Federal Government planned a Presidential Committee to fashion out ways to guarantee a harmonious relationship between it and professionals in the health sector.

 

The minister promised to look into the protest by the workers that a nurse was not appointed as the chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

 

Justice B.A. Adejumo of NIC had on July 23 delivered judgment in favour of the health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), in suit No NICN/ABJ/238/2012, filed by the workers.

 

The non-implementation of the judgment led to a nationwide strike last, which paralysed activities in Federal Government-owned hospitals.

 

By: The Pointer