JOHESU Strike: Health Workers Restrategise, To Mobilise For Mass Rally 

By Iteveh Ekpokpobe

Despite the Abuja National Industrial Court order directing the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) to end its ongoing strike action, the Tertiary Health Institutions National Consultative Forum (THINCF), has threatened to restrategise and collectively mobilise in support of other members of JOHESU for a mass/street rallies to call attention to the injustice being perpetrated against health workers by the Federal Ministry of Health.

They also threatened that unless the adjusted CONHESS table and other demands put forward by JOHESU are approved, released and implemented with arrears paid, the ongoing strike will neither be suspended nor called off.

The THINCF position was expressed by the National Secretary of THINCF, Comrade Davidson Akilaiya, while briefing the press in Asaba.

Comrade Akilaiya revealed that their recent meeting at Kano appreciated the National leadership of JOHESU for their doggedness and focus in the strike  struggle.

He also presented a copy of the six-paragraph communiqué issued at the end of the THINCF 42nd Regular Meetings held at the Secretariat of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Kano State Chapter, where decision on the mass rally was taken recently.

The communiqué signed by the National Chairman, Comrade Hussain Ahmed and the National Secretary, Comrade Davidson Akilaiya, called for the immediate sack of the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, over his alleged overbearing stance in the ongoing strike embarked upon by members of JOHESU, accusing the Health Minister of allegedly displaying impunity, corrupt tendencies and abuse of office.

The communiqué posited that the minister’s sack will act as deterrent to others tarnishing the image of the the present administration.

They averred that the deliberate divisive actions by the Federal Ministry of Health has led to the poor state of Nigeria health sector with attendant consequences.

THINCF also decried the use of security agents by Chef Medical Directors and Medical Directors to harass JOHESU members that are on strike, adding that the action is condemnable, barbaric and inhuman and will not be tolerated.

In the same vain, the meeting expressed dismay over the antagonistic, provocative and self-serving tendencies of members of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and MDCAN towards JOHESU members, contending that their legitimate demands from their employers should not be their business as they are not competent to speak for the government.