The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have suspended its indefinite strike for 21 days.

The suspension was announced after the leadership of the unions held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.

The Acting National Secretary, Matthew Ajirotu, in a message sent to Blueprint, said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu promised to approve their demands.

“JOHESU has just suspended its strike with a caveat to review it after 21 days. We met President Tinubu today at a 1-hour parley and he promised to give approval to the demands after further consultations with appropriate quarters in government,” he said.

President Tinubu had earlier urged striking health union workers to return to work, promising to resolve their grievances.

“We will resolve all the issues. Please go back to work,” Tinubu told the leadership of JOHESU during a meeting at the State House.

Blueprint reports that the JOHESU had embarked on an indefinite strike a week ago over demands for improved welfare, amongst other reasons. Also, the Nigerian Labour Congress said it will embark on a nationwide strike on Wednesday following the discontinuance of petrol subsidy.

State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, revealed this in a statement he signed on Monday titled ‘President Tinubu restates commitment to reviving health sector.’

Tinubu who stated his administration’s commitment to revive and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s health sector harped on the importance of the sector and its professionals.

He promised to resolve all identified problems plaguing the system for optimum performance, urging the striking union to return to work.

“The health sector is one sector with a commitment to humanity. We will resolve all the problems.

“Trust must be enshrined in all discussions. I promise you we will accelerate this.

“We will resolve all the issues. Please go back to work,”  Tinubu appealed to the union leaders.