Health workers in the country are gearing towards an industrial action following unresolved disputes which they accused government of playing double standards.
The workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) told journalists Sunday that the issues ranged from the union’s position against corruption, CONHESS adjustment and planned privitisation of hospitals among others.
Chairman of JOHESU and the national president of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Bioblemoye J. Josiah said the unions had always maintained peaceful disposition in the provocative posture of the ministry of health on the plights of the members.
According to him, “The other issue is generally the hiccup in the health system. Graciously, for some time now, it has been quiet. I want to assure Nigerians that it is not because there are no problems that we are quiet but because we always have deep concerns for Nigerians.”
“We know that it is only the public health sector that can be affordable for a common Nigerian. We are very reluctant at obstructing the process of work in the public health systems.
“There is no strike we’ve embarked upon that we started within the regulatory 21 days. There was a time we kept shifting for 91 days thinking the government will respond appropriately. Even the last one was 65 days. We are very much concerned, contrary to the view in some quarters that we are trigger-happy with strike.
April, May salaries that were denied our members in 2018! Look at the distance now. People will not know we have endured right from 2018 to this present day.
“This is capable of sparking uproar in the system because our members feel and they have the right to feel so that no work no pay rule is been implemented selectively, because other sectors in the Nigerian work force have also gone on strike, even medical doctors went on strike, as we speak and they’ve been paid.”