The leadership of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, said Tuesday it would meet again with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Wednesday to find an end to the on-going strike by the union.
Saraki had met with representatives of the striking health workers on Monday in a bid to resolve the current impasse that has crippled activities in government health institutions in the past 43 days.
JOHESU President, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja, said, “We shall be meeting with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, again on Wednesday (today) in continuation of our meeting with him on Monday.
“JOHESU leaders are hopeful that this intervention will lead to a resolution of the strike soonest and further deliberation or discussion on all outstanding issues.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has directed the striking health workers to resume work immediately or be declared to have absconded from duty.
Prof Isaac Adewole, Health Minister, gave the directive to chief medical officers of all federal government owned hospitals.
The minister said that anyone who failed to resume would be considered to have absconded from duty without leave, an act considered a serious misconduct in line with Public Service rule 030413.
Adewole stressed anyone who participated in the strike would not be paid for the period of the strike, even if it was called off.
The minister urged chairmen of the boards to take charge of their facilities, adding that any chief executive not willing to keep the services running, would be suspended and replaced with another officer in acting capacity.
“We want you to go back and restore services in your various institutions immediately. The clinics must run, theatre must be opened, there is no reason why they should lock your theatre. No one has the right to lock up government hospitals,” the minister said.
Reacting to the Minister’s directive, Dr. Godswill Okara, the National Chairman, Assembly of Healthcare Professional Unions, said the health workers might be coerced to resume but noted that would not guarantee their commitment to duty.
“I am aware of the Minister’s directives. We may be forced to resume duties latest next Monday but that does not guarantee that the every worker will put his heart to work and express maximum commitment to meeting the needs of the health-seeking public.
“So, the best solution to the logjam is not threat or coercion but discussions, negotiations and reconciliations. However, we hope for amicable resolution of the disputes,” Dr. Okara said.
