Nigerian Health workers begin nationwide strike today

Health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), have begun their planned strike.

The action took effect at 12 a.m on Monday, following the alleged inability of the Federal Government to meet their demands.

JOHESU urged its members to withdraw their services across the country to key into the industrial action.

The union said it took the decision at its expanded National Executive Council (NEC), which took place on Sunday.

But the government described the proposed strike as ill-timed and illegal.

It asked JOHESU to shelve the action and return to the negotiation table.

At a conciliatory meeting brokered last Thursday by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the government announced that it had reached an agreement with the unions.

But JOHESU leaders, at the end of their meeting with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora; JOHESU Chairman Biobelemoye Josiah, and other officials, were given till Saturday, September 12, 2020, to report back to the government team.

In a memo on Sunday, JOHESU said the unions unanimously agreed that since nothing concrete was achieved at the conciliatory meeting with the Federal Government last week, the strike notice was “still germane and alive”.

– The Nation