Normalcy is expected to return to all federal health institutions across the country as the leadership of Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) on Saturday suspended the two-weeks old nationwide industrial action in principle.
Meanwhile, the leadership of JOHESU is expects to hold an enlarged National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of all its affiliates tomorrow, Sunday, 1st October, 2017, with view to present and ratify the agreement signed with Federal Government’s negotiation team.
Josiah Biobelemoye, JOHESU President who confirmed this after over eight hour conciliatory meeting with Federal Government’s negotiation team led by Stephen Ocheni, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, disclosed that all JOHESU members will resume work.
“It our desire not to prolong the strike action. We have gone through very very exhaustive dialogue to arrive at this point. In principle this strike has been suspended.
“But because we have modus operandi where such strike leaves the leadership and goes to the other organs, the expanded NEC must be informed, any agreement must revert back to that body.
“As such, in order to make Nigerians have maximum hope that this crisis has ended, we have agreed to invite our enlarged NEC tomorrow, so that we can also present this agreement that has been signed to them for ratification and implementation so that they can commence work as the week opens,” Biobelemoye assured.
On his part, Ocheni who presided over the second conciliation meeting in Abuja, affirmed Federal Government’s resolve to resolve the issues that led to the industrial action.
The Minister also expressed optimism that the issues will be resolved, even though the leadership of the striking workers show dissatisfaction with the way government has been responding to the issues raised.
“In any case we thank God that we have reached conclusion on various issues. At this particular point, I want to commend the government side and labour union side, the representatives of the health sector, all the unions that are present here from you patience and for your endurance,” the Minister noted.
The parties during the conciliatory meeting unanimously agreed on the appointment made at variance, Teaching hospital management, wholistic review of governance pattern, to set up 5-man committee set up to always look at critical issue within the health sector and illegal virement.
Likewise, they resolved to ensure the constitution of Board membership without further delay and involve JOHESU, issue circular on same scale promotion within one week, Federal Ministry of Health Owerri to conduct promotion soon and to revisit the issues bothering on non-payment of salary cum no work no pay policy as well as review of 65 years retirement to be reconsider at the next meeting of National Establishment Council, among others.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA & LAIDE AKINBOADE-ORIERE, Abuja
