Health workers under the auspices of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU and the Assembly of the Association of Health Professionals, AHPA, have suspended their seven-day warning strike with effect from the midnight of October 31, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU and in the general public interest.

The National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr. Kabiru Minjibir, said this in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Martin Egbanubi, the National Secretary of the union, on Thursday in Abuja.

DAILY POST recalls that JOHESU embarked on a seven-day warning strike on October 25 to press its demands from the Federal Government.

He said the decision to suspend the warning strike was taken during an emergency meeting of the Union’s Extended National Executive Council (NEC).

He added that the expanded NEC comprised the presidents and general secretaries of JOHESU affiliated trade unions and professional associations, the National Executive Council, NEC, members of affiliated unions and JOHESU state and branch level presidents and secretaries.

The statement said the NEC-in-Session critically appraised the various reports and the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the JOHESU team and the Federal Government team during the conciliation meeting held on October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment.

“The NEC in session, after extensive deliberations, resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike be effective from midnight on Thursday, October 31, 2024, in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in the general public interest.

“Six weeks time given to the federal government to fulfill all its obligations contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.

“The extended meeting of the NEC will be convened at the expiry of the six (6) week terms to review the development and take appropriate decisions.

“Indefinite strike action will be the next option if the enlarged NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the responses of the federal government to the implementation of its obligations contained in the Memorandum of Understanding,” it said.

Union demands include immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of 25% arrears of CONHESS review, payment of nine months salary to staff of regulatory agencies.

Others were the restoration of the funding of the Environmental Health Regulatory Board, the reconstitution of the Boards/Governing Boards of the Federal Health Authority, the commencement of the process of upward revision of the retirement age of health workers, among others.