Heath workers suspend strike after meeting with Tinubu

Heath workers suspend strike after meeting with Tinubu

Health workers on Monday announced the suspension of their indefinite strike with effect from Tuesday June 06.

The workers under the aegis of Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (AHPA) embarked on strike on May 25 over issues relating to welfare and wages.

The decision to suspend the strike was taken after the unions’ meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They however gave the Federal Government a fresh ultimatum of three weeks to meet their demands.

National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, said the plea, assurances and body language of President Tinubu convinced its members to suspend the strike.

He said they gave  a 21-day timeline to the Federal Government to begin implementation of some of their demands.

A report by The Nation quoted him as saying, “We have just returned from the expanded NEC meeting. With the level of engagement from the government side, coupled with some of the indicators we have seen so far, and with our visit to the Villa to see Mr President who gave assurances that he is going to look into our issues with the mindset of resolving them, we brought the matter to the Congress.

“With all other assessments that we have made so far, and with Mr. President’s pleas, the Congress now decided that a 21-day timeline should be given to the government to activate and release some of the circulars, and implement some of those items that we have taken to the government.

“On the strength of that, the Congress now said the strike should be suspended with effects from tomorrow when the Congresses in other branches will be called.”

The JOHESU and AHPA comprise healthcare workers, excluding medical doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives.

They complained about the unfair treatment and discrimination of its members by the Federal Ministry of Health, in terms of welfare package and salaries.