Seven-Day Nationwide Warning Strike Declared in Nigeria Over Unmet Demands
A major crisis is looming in Nigeria’s healthcare sector as the Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) declared a seven-day nationwide warning strike starting from midnight on Friday, October 25, 2024. This move comes after the federal government failed to address the critical issues raised by the unions.
According to JOHESU’s National President, Kabiru Minjibir, the unions have yet to receive a positive response from the government despite repeated assurances during meetings with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Speaking to newsmen at the end of the unions’ expanded National Executive Council hybrid meeting in Abuja, Minjibir stated, “If at the end of the seven days warning strike, the federal government fails to meet our demands, JOHESU have no other option than to embark on an indefinite strike action.”
The warning strike is a culmination of the 15-day ultimatum issued to the federal government on October 10, 2024, which expired without any resolution. The workers are demanding various improvements, including the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of 25% CONHESS Review arrears, and nine months’ salary to workers of Regulatory Agencies.
Other demands include the restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institutions, and the upward review of retirement age for health workers. The unions are also seeking a tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances, payment of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers, and the suspension of the planned establishment and activities of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency.
Minjibir emphasized that JOHESU remains committed to resolving matters through social dialogue, adding, “We shall, therefore, keep all our channels of communication open during this period.” The strike is expected to affect hospitals nationwide, and Nigerians are advised to take note of the situation.
JOHESU’s affiliate unions include the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
