JOHESU Accuses Medical Doctors Of Plans To Sabotage Strike Action

JOHESU strike continues as patients groan

JOHESU Strike Enters Fourth Week

The National Chairman of JOHESU, Biobebelemoye Josiah, has accused Nigerian doctors of trying to frustrate ongoing talks between the union and the federal government on how to end the four-week-old strike embarked upon by the union.

Mr Josiah, who raised the alarm when he fielded questions from newsmen in Abuja, also accused the Ministry of Health of collaborating with the doctors in undermining the demands of the JOHESU.

Recall that JOHESU had on April 17 embarked on industrial action to press home its demands bordering on improved healthcare facilities and welfare for its members,an action that has so far crippled healthcare delivery in public health institutions across the country.

But the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, had on Wednesday confirmed that negotiations were on with JOHESU to end the strike.

He said: “Negotiations are still on with JOHESU and the Minister of Labour is leading the negotiation, and we expect that we will conclude on all issues very soon.’’

Meanwhile, as earlier reported by Naija News, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had in a statement threatened to withdraw their services across health institutions in the country if the federal government acceded to the demands of JOHESU and other health workers.

In his response, the president of JOHESU, alleged that the federal government delegation is not doing enough in meeting the demands of the union.

“This very agreement was entered into and then a memo was made to Mr President as they claimed even though they gave us a copy later.

“When they made this memo it was in December and the ministry of health defended her budget in February, but did not deem it to include that the amount it worked for the payment or settlement of this very issue.

“This goes a long way to show that there was dishonesty, insincerity from the beginning on the part of the ministry (Federal Ministry of Health) because most probably the minister is a doctor; minister of state (Health) is a doctor and minister of labour who is supposed to be the chief negotiator, is also a medical doctor,’’ he said.