Barely a week after resident doctors suspended their strike action, the umbrella body of health workers in Nigeria, Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU), has directed its members to withdraw their services and embark on a nationwide strike starting from midnight on Sunday, September 13, 2020.
This decision was reached after the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union held a meeting on Saturday.
In a statement on Sunday by Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, President of JOHESU, the union said it gave the Federal Government one week to address all lingering issues and nothing concrete had been achieved.
The health workers are asking the Federal Government to address the failures and decaying infrastructure in the health sector and pay the shortfall in COVID-19 hazard allowances for their members.
The union is also seeking the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, implementation of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria consent judgment and other court judgments, and pay all outstanding salary arrears.