JOHESU Threatens Fresh Strike, Issues 15-Day Ultimatum To FG To Address Demands

Nigerian public healthcare professionals under the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have given the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum to address their unresolved demands, or they will commence another strike action.

This warning came in a joint statement from the union’s national chairman and secretary, noting that the government has not met their requests since June 2021.

The union’s key demands include the non-payment of COVID-19 hazard allowances, a tax exemption on healthcare workers’ allowances, and the cessation of plans to establish a new agency overseeing national health facilities.

JOHESU had previously gone on strike from May 19, 2023, to June 6, 2023, disrupting healthcare services across the country. That strike was suspended after President Bola Tinubu promised to intervene and resolve their concerns.

In a related development, primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), have decided to suspend their strike. The teachers had begun their strike on September 18, 2024, over unpaid wage arrears and other benefits.

However, the NUT FCT chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Shafas, announced the suspension after an emergency meeting.

The decision was influenced by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s commitment to resolving their grievances, particularly the instruction to use 10% of the area councils’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to pay the teachers.