The Joint Health Sector (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association (AHPA) have suspended their seven-day warning strike.
The National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr. Kabiru Minjibir, disclosed this in a communiqué jointly signed by the National Secretary of the union, Mr. Martin Egbanubi, on Thursday in Abuja.
JOHESU embarked on a seven-day warning strike on October 25, to press home its demands for better working conditions.
The workers are demanding the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of 25 percent CONHESS Review arrears, and payment of nine months’ salary to staff of regulatory agencies.
Others were the restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions, and commencement of the process to upwardly review the retirement age of health workers, among others.
The officials said the decision to suspend the strike was taken at a hybrid emergency meeting of the Expanded National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.
The expanded NEC comprised the Presidents and General Secretaries of JOHESU affiliate unions and professional Associations, National Executive Council (NEC) members of affiliate Unions, and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at the State and Branch levels.
According to the officials, the NEC-in-Session critically appraised the various reports and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the JOHESU team and the Federal Government team during the conciliation meeting held on October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
The communiqué read: “NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike effective from midnight, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in the general public interest.
“Timeline of six weeks given to the Federal Government to meet all her obligations contained in the MoU.
“Expanded NEC meeting shall be convened upon the expiration of the six (6) weeks’ deadlines to review development and take appropriate decisions.
“Indefinite strike action shall be the next option if the Expanded NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the Federal Government responses to the implementation of her obligations contained in the MoU.”