NMA Osun State Press Release on the Ongoing Strike Action by JOHESU

Posted on: Fri 25-05-2018

PRESS RELEASE DELIVERED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (NMA) , OSUN STATE BRANCH; DR TOKUNBO OLAJUMOKE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE ONGOING STRIKE ACTION BY JOHESU AT THE STATE SECRETARIAT IN OSOGBO, OSUN STATE ON TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Osun State branch is the umbrella body for all Medical and Dental Practitioners in the Federal and State Teaching Hospitals, Private Sector, the Government Secondary health facilities and the Local Government Primary health facilities in the state.

One of the aims of the association is to assist the government and the good people of the state in the provision of smooth, efficient and effective health care delivery.

The state NMA has keenly monitored events since the commencement of an indefinite strike action by the allied health workers under the amorphous group called JOHESU; a group alien to the healthcare industry and the Laws of our dear country, Nigeria.

Following the state executive council meeting of our noble association held on May 17, 2018, where the issue of the ongoing strike action by JOHESU was discussed in the light of its unnecessary disruption of the progress that has been achieved in the health sector, the following pertinent observations were made;

1) JOHESU (comprising of all health workers in the hospital except the doctors, including the Nurses, the pharmacists, the gatemen and the cleaners) declared an indefinite strike on April 18, 2018.

2) The strike action borders on the leadership in the hospital and pay parity with medical doctors.

3) Globally, remuneration of workers is based on professional qualifications, relevance, input to work, international best practices among some other factors.

4) All allied healthcare professionals only act on patients upon the directive of the doctor which is the concept of clinical governance and which is acceptable as the best practice worldwide until the birth of JOHESU!

5) Despite the unfriendly environment created by this group, our members have resolved to run all clinics, adult and children emergencies, dental unit and day case surgery at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife.

6) Some very critical points of patient care, equipment and lifesaving medical apparatuses have been locked up by the members of JOHESU at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.

7) The Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 provides in Article 13 (2) & (3) that: Every citizen shall have the right of equal access to the public service of his country; every individual shall have the right of access to public property and services in strict equality of all persons before the law.

8) The CMD remains the administrative and medical head; and such decisions as where to lock and unlock in the hospital are at his discretion.

The meeting also noted for the education of the good people of Osun State and Nigeria at large that:

1) Whether merited or not, health workers earn more basic salary than their counterparts in the rest of the public service. It is however unfortunate that allied health workers who on one hand agreed to the advantaged salary difference with their counterparts, will covert same salary with doctors who dictate proceedings in the management of patients and do a superior job.

In view of the above observations, the meeting resolved as follows:

1) NMA is never opposed to salary increment as being agitated for by JOHESU. However, the government is reminded of the January 2014 agreement that any increment in CONHESS salary scale must be followed by a corresponding adjustment in the CONMESS scale.

2) JOHESU members should conduct themselves in an honourable manner as other members of the society when there is an industrial dispute and submit all the government belongings in their care to those who are willing to use them for the benefit of the masses.

4) The management of OAUTHC should without further delay provide adequate security to prevent the breakdown of law and order by this violent group of hospital aides and assistants.

5) That tentatively, ad-hoc staff should be temporarily employed to assist in the smooth running at the OAUTHC, Ile-Ife pending the resolution of the ongoing quagmire.

NMA SAYS RELATIVITY BETWEEN DOCTORS AND ALLIED HEALTH WORKERS SALARIES REMAIN SACRED AND SACROSANCT

APPRECIATION:

We appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for standing for the truth at this unusual time in the history of our dear Country.

The Honorable Minister of Health for staying true to His Oath of office by putting the health of Nigerian citizens first in his decision rather than succumb to demands that are at variance with international best practices and the accompanying threats and blackmail.

Irrua Specialist Hospital Doctors for being at their duty posts as at the time that about 40 members of this group of striking health workers were involved in a ghastly Road Traffic Crash, and to have averted what would have resulted to a national calamity.