Nigerian government confirms measures aimed at compelling health workers to suspend nationwide strike
The government of Nigeria has responded to allegations by the health workers that are currently on strike across the country under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), claiming it has already met almost all of the demands of the health workers.
Read more: Health workers’ strike cripples hospitals across Nigeria
healthnews.africa reported that the health workers officially comprising of nurses, medical laboratory scientists and other health workers are on strike because they accused the government of not implementing the agreement reached with the union in September 2017.
healthnews.africa also revealed a memo sent on behalf of health minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to heads of government-owned hospitals across the country directing them to open registers in all the departments and to effect the No Work, No Pay policy.
Confirming this development, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, expressed government’s shock at the decision of JOHESU to emback on another round of nationwide strike, despite its commitment to the implementation of an agreement reached with them in September 2017.
According to him, the government will not fail to wield the big stick by invoking the ‘no work, no pay,’ if they fail to return to their duty posts.
In a statement issued by the Press Directorate of the ministry, the minister noted that “at a period the federal government is faithfully managing lean resources to ensure industrial harmony in all sectors, a measure of patriotism is expected of all labour unions to enable government have an equable social and very good labour milieu in which workers could be assured of security of employment.
“It is on record that government has met almost all the demands of these unions on issues such as the payment of promotion arrears, salary shortfalls, among others, as per the agreement reached on September 30, 2017.
“The federal government therefore wishes to appeal to JOHESU to reconsider its position in view of the immeasurable consequences of its action on sick patients in hospitals across the nation.”