Health Workers under the auspice of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) has issued a fresh 15- day ultimatum for the officials of the Federal Ministry of Health to address the contentious issues or face industrial action.
The workers who represent 6 registered trade unions in the sector said the contentious issues include non-implementation of an agreement signed for three years with the unions. The agreement which was signed since 30th September 2017 is still not implemented.
According to a letter which was dated August 26th, 2020 to the minister of Health, the unions said during a meeting between government and the workers on Wednesday 1st July 2020, the officials of the Ministry agreed that the government made a mistake on the payment of special Covid-19 allowances.
Also copied Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the letter said despite several communications to influence the government to address the mistake and other outstanding issues, there is no positive response to that regard.
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Jointly signed by the Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Josiah Biobelemoye and others said effective from midnight September 13, 2020; the workers would withdraw her services if the government fails to meet the workers’ demands.
According to the letter “You will also recall sir, that at the meeting of JOHESU and your good self with the Minister of State for Health, Permanent Secretary and other top functionaries of your Ministry, held on Wednesday, 1“ July 2020, Your Ministry agreed that a mistake was made by government m the implementation of COViD-l9 Special inducement and Hazard allowance and Consequently promised that the shortfall in the payment of 50% Basic of Consolidated to all those Health Workers was a mistake on the part of Government and that the shortfall shall be paid accordingly.
‘Up till the time of this letter, the shortfall has not been paid. To make matters worse, when the payment for June 2020 was made, the Government decided to again pay 10% of Consolidated Basic to our members.
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“This is in contravention of the spirit and content of the MoU signed on 21 April 2020. JOHESU is constrained to give the Federal Government 15 days ultimatum with elect from midnight Sunday, 30th August 2020, and to inform you that with effect from midnight of Sunday, 13th September 2020. All our members in the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions shall embark on a strike action while State and Local Government health institutions are placed on red alert for possible entry into the fray if the Federal Government footdrags in attending to our demands.
“The Minister Sir, you will agree with us that JOHESU has always exhibited maturity, selflessness, and patriotism even in the face of extreme provocations and government’s nonchalant attitude to the welfare of our members and we think that our maturity and selflessness have been taken for granted.
“This 15 days ultimatum is necessitated by the nonchalant and Iackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government to the plight of our members, inspite of our benevolence and long notice given on these Issues. We note with sadness that our long-suffering is not appreciated because the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMoL&E) continues to give the impression that our members do not have the capacity to endure hunger as they are vulnerable and poor, a perception that will be put to test in the weeks ahead if the government does not heed ours.”
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