Health workers in the country have again blamed their two-month-old strike on alleged discrimination, insensitivity and marginalization by the Federal Government.

 

They have therefore urged Nigerians to hold the government responsible for near-absence of medical services in most of the nation’s public hospitals.

 

The workers, under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, anAssembly of Health Care Professionals stated this in a statement signed by their leaders and made available to National Mirror recently.

 

Some of the leaders include National President, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, Dr Ayuba Wabba; National President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Abdulrafiu Adeniji; National President, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, Faniran Felix.

 

The workers said they would not end the strike until its demands are met by the Federal Government. Demands of the workers according to the statement require implementation of a court order in their favour.

 

 

The demands as listed in the statement are non-promotion of their members from salary CONHESS 14-15 as Directors having stayed for four to five years on the same salary level without promotion in most federal tertiary hospitals; immediate release of circular on adjustment of salary since January 2014 and immediate payment of at least two months arrears while the remaining is paid after being accommodated in the 2015.

 

“Immediate release of the circular on extension of retirement age to be back-dated to February, 2014, when he issue was 

 

presented to the National Council on Establishments; immediate and full payment of arrears of salaries of CONHESS 10 skipping outstanding since the year 2010.

 

“Payment of arrears of specialist allowance to qualified hospital based professionals, with effect from 1st January 2010, in line with the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, ruling; addressing the lopsidedness in the membership of Boards of Management of tertiary hospitals; need to define the functions and power of Honourary Consultants in Teaching Hospitals and the need to appoint more hospital-based consultants instead of Honourary Consultants,” the statement added.

 

The workers further alleged that a meeting between them and the federal government late last year at the instance of the Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Kabiru Taminu Turaki, which sought to know the extent of the implementation of the grievances failed to address the problems.

 

by MARCUS FATUNMOLE