Just In: JOHESU Declares Seven-Day Warning Strike Over Unmet Demands

Members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU) have commenced a seven-day warning strike starting from midnight on Friday.

This action follows a fifteen-day notice issued to the Federal Government, signalling deep-seated grievances over several unresolved issues affecting their members nationwide.

Kabiru Minjibir, the national chairman of JOHESU, detailed the union’s demands during a press briefing in Abuja.

The union is pressing for significant adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, akin to the revisions made to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure back on January 2, 2014.

They are also advocating for the implementation of a consultant cadre for pharmacists in Federal Health Institutions and a revision of the retirement age—from 60 to 65 years for health workers and to 70 years for consultants.

Additional demands include the payment of arrears related to the CONHESS review, a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, and the immediate payment of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances that were omitted for some health workers.

JOHESU is also calling for the immediate suspension of the planned establishment and activities of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency and the withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures.

Minjibir emphasized the necessity of these demands, highlighting their critical role in ensuring the welfare and operational efficiency of health workers across the country.

He stated that the strike is aimed at pushing the government to address these longstanding issues promptly.

JOHESU has directed all its members across various federal health institutions to adhere strictly to the strike directive, underlining the seriousness of their grievances.