The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Dr. Dapo Sotiloye, on Monday appealed to the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to suspend its industrial action and resume work with immediate effect.
Sotiloye, who made this known at a press briefing held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, appealed to the health workers to call off the ongoing nationwide strike.
According to him, “The federal government wishes to appeal to the general public to understand that it is genuinely concerned (about) the welfare of all citizens of Nigeria and (has) ensured that essential services are continuing in all hospitals by doctors and other adhoc staff.”
He said the major reasons of the ongoing strike by the health workers are related to welfare of members, assertion of authority, inter professional rivalry among others.
He noted that the negotiations between government and JOHESU were ongoing since the beginning of the strike, adding that the negotiation would continue when the strike is called off.
Sotiloye added that the presidential committee who looked into the issues causing disharmony and conflict in the health sector had submitted its report.
“Committee has been constituted to produce a white paper for appropriate implementation by the presidential committee,” he said.
He added: “The president set up a very powerful presidential committee for experts on inter-professional relationship in the public sector to look into the issues raised by all unions in the health sector and proffer lasting solution.
“I would like to join the Hon. Minister of Health and the Hon. Minister of Labour and Productivity in appealing to JOHESU to call off the strike in the overall interest of our patients who have gone through a lot of hardship in accessing healthcare services.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Dr. Majekodunmi Ayodele, has called on the National Assembly to strengthen the existing labour laws in the country to checkmate incessant strike in the Nigeria’s health sector.
Ayodele, who ascribed the incessant strikes being witnessed in the health sector to the preponderance of inter-professional ego among the medical unions, urged the national assembly to rework the law to put a stop to the abuse of rights and privileges of its employees.
Making particular reference to the three-month-old strike embarked on by members of the Joint Health Sector Union, Ayodele appealed to the striking workers to suspend the strike action to save the sector from total collapse and further decay.
At a press conference in Ido Ekiti yesterday, Ayodele said the
JOHESU members, comprising pharmacists, nurses and medical laboratory technologists, have been having consistent strained relationship with doctors, saying this protracted egoistic posture is killing the system.
Ayodele added, to permanently accede to the JOHESU’s demands, President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a presidential committee of experts on inter-professional relationship, led by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Ahmed Yayali, to look into the issues causing acrimony in the health sector and proffer lasting solutions.
He said the fact that by the salaries were being paid by federal government as and when due, confirmed the sincerity on the side of the government that it would respond positively to their agitations.
“The way the federal government has been paying their salaries in the last three months shows that the it is responsive to their yearnings. And it will be advisable for them to think twice in the interest of the masses,” he said.
The CMD pointed out that the teaching hospital is still carrying out out-patient treatment of patients, just like he said the tertiary hospital has not recorded any death since the strike commenced due to the ingenuity of the management in ensuring that doctors are mobilised to work.
“You know we are losing greatly in terms of Internally Generated Revenue. Aside this, many of those who felt sick would be psychologically traumatised when they see that there are no places to run to for help.
“But the federal government has been so magnanimous in paying salaries even when the health workers are on strike. Last time when the doctors went on strike, our salaries were being paid. I don’t think it would be right for people to hold the country back. It is not morally right for you to get paid even while you are not working,” he said
Ayodele said many of their agitations had been factored into the 2015 budget by the Federal Ministry of Health, urging them to put the interest of the nation at heart.
The CMD, however, pointed out that JOHESU has not breached the constitution for fighting fir what they believe to be their rights, but would have to embrace the olive branch being extended to them by the federal government for expeditious resolution of the protracted crisis .
“As much as it would not be good for us to hold our employers to ransom, I am also appealing to the federal government to behave in a way that won’t make us feel enslaved in the system. This remains the best way to ensure stability in the health sector.”
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