Health workers threaten strike

The Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, the umbrella body of health workers in the country, has issued the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum, starting from May 1 to implement the agreement signed with it on issues that borders on welfare and condition of service of their members or risk a nationwide strike at the end of the ultimatum.

The union also threatened to drag the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, to court if it embarks on strike on labour issues “because NMA is not registered as a union.”

Felix Faniran, the President of JOHESU, who was represented by Ayuba Waba, the President of the National Union of Allied Health Professionals, gave the ultimatum at a press conference in Abuja on May 1, after the Workers Day rally.

He also appealed to government to stop negotiating with the NMA and its associated bodies who are not registered trade unions.

“The NMA has the right to exists as an association, however it does not have the right to exist as a trade union. A non-registered union has no right to negotiate for salaries and has no right to embark on strike,” he added.