BY Favour Nwaokolo
Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba was under lock and key, yesterday, as the health workers, under the aegis of the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU), joined a nationwide strike action for the implementation of an MoU signed with the Federal Government on October 29, 2024.
When our correspondent visited the hospital, the gates were tightly shut with no one allowed to come close by the security personnel. There were a few workers at the Admin department, who said they could not provide any explanations as our correspondent who visited FMC Asaba at about 3pm, missed the action, since the union officials had long sealed the hospital and left.
A resident described it as “double wahala for patients” as the doctors who had been on strike are now joined by other health workers, compounding the woes of sick persons, many of whom had been discharged.
Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) began an indefinite strike action beginning November 14 over an alleged federal government’s failure to fulfil promises on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The JOHESU, which comprises the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, said the strike commenced by midnight of November 14, 2024 as its demands were not met.
The strike notice, contained in a letter addressed to the ministers of health and labour and employment, was signed by the National Chairman of JOHESU, Ado Kabiru and National Secretary, Martins Egbanubi.
According to the union, the notice was issued in accordance with Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. It stated that its major demand was the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the federal government in 2024 aimed at fast-tracking payment of CONHESS adjustments, similar to what has been done for the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) on three occasions since 2014.
