Kaduna health workers join JOHESU strike

The Kaduna State chapter of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Care Professionals have joined the JOHESU national strike.

Executive members of the joint union led by its chairman, Ayuba Suleiman, disclosed while addressing journalists in the state.

Mr Suleiman directed members in the state and local government health institutions to commence the JOHESU strike at midnight of May 18.

He explained that JOHESU’s demands at the state level include that the state government should issue a circular for implementation of the balance of 30 percent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for the state and local government health workers.

Other demands, he said, include all statutory and professional dues deductions including pension, taxes, national housing fund, cooperative contribution and union check-off dues be remitted without further delay to the appropriate institutions.

Also included is to domesticate court judgement in favour of the Medical Laboratory Scientists from the National Industrial Court in Kaduna State (Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital).

The chairman said the leadership of JOHESU in Kaduna had offered extra nine days outside the time frame for the commencement of the strike.

He said this was to enable the government to address the issues in contention but the gesture had not been well appreciated by the government.

“So, it is with pains in our hearts that we are drawing the attention of our members, consumers of health services and the general public that just like the federal government is not showing sign of commitment by addressing the issues placed before it by the national leadership of JOHESU, one month after the strike commenced.

“The Kaduna State government has also not demonstrated any serious commitment to the domestic issues placed before it as at our last meeting with the government on Thursday, May 17, 2018 ended up with promissory note without any offer,” he said.

The national leadership of JOHESU and Assembly of Health Care Professionals had on April 17 declared an industrial strike action and directed state, FCT and local government to join on May 9.