The Meeting started at about 6:30pm due to late arrival of other stakeholders especially representatives of the federal ministry of health. The meeting was chaired by the Supervising Minister of labour and productivity, present also was the minister of State for Health, Chairman National Salary and Wages Commission, Top government officials from the Budget office and Directors from the FMOH.

 

After an elongated debate on whether there was a substanstive agreement or not entered with government by JOHESU, The government claimed that only reports were generated at the end of the earlier negotiations with JOHESU and no agreement reached. JOHESU briefed the Hon. Minister that negotiation had being concluded on all the issues concerned, with agreements advanced to the level of implementation and were there only to harvest circulars.

 

On the issue of adjusted CONHESS table and skipping, the National Salary and Wages Commission (NSWC) blamed the FMOH for sending a global figure of 8.3 billion without segregating the lump sum to show what was due to each facility and had made the observation to the ministry but did not do the needful up to the time of this negotiation since he (NSWC) will need to defend the figures posted with Mr President before implementation circulars can be issued.

 

On MLS pending EEP circular the representative of HOS promised its release very shortly.

On the issue of lopsidedness in Board appointments, the FMOH showed a letter appointing another JOHESU member to the Board of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. JOHESU observed that out of about 500 Board members in the FMOH parastatals only about 15 are JOHESU members and that it was unacceptable. The minister stated that lobby for Board appointment must start early to avoid the undue influence of politicians and legal provisions should not be tampered with.

On circular on retirement age and regularization of Nurses and Midwife Scheme of Service, the representative of the head of service informed that the report of the 12 man sub- committee was ready and will be ratifed at the National Council on Establishment meeting scheduled to hold initially in Bauchi but was shifted to Imo State due to security concerns. The Budget office promised to make funds available for the conference to hold before the end of the year since

the HOS of Imo state had promised to play host.

 

On promotion from CONHESS 14 to 15, FMOH showed a circular to confirm it has taken effect and that provision has been made in the Manpower budget to accommodate more vacancies. It was also observed that a clause convening appropriate sanctions for deviant/non compliance Chief executives has be included in the circulars and that the FMOH should use some deviant CMD/MD as scapegoat.

The meeting was adjourned at about 12:10 am till Tuesday next week with a plea for JOHESU to call off the strike in the interest of the nation since even the health staff taking temperatures at the airport (Ebola screening) has since abandoned ship. JOHESU insisted that its minimum mandate is to harvest circulars for its members and is not ready for a show of shame with its members. 

CREDITS: Oni Nelson