The Federal Government will tomorrow meet with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals in Abuja.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment spokesman, Charles Akpan, disclosed this in an invitation to journalists on Monday. Akpan explained that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige will meet with the unions at his conference room by 2 pm.
JOHESU had handed down a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and threatened to go on strike if its demand for payment of outstanding allowances was not met.
The threat by JOHESU is coming barely a week after the Nigeria Medical Association and its affiliates also handed down a 21-day ultimatum to declare an industrial action if the FG failed to resolve all the issues contained in the various agreements signed with the doctors.
This is happening as the strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors entered its fifth week
Akpan had noted that JOHESU followed the proper procedure by notifying the FG in writing about its intention to declare an industrial action over outstanding welfare issues.
The union had in a letter to the minister dated September 2, 2021, gave a 15-day ultimatum over the alleged nonchalant attitude of the government to the plight of its members.
In the letter written by JOHESU National President, Mr Biobelemonye Josiah, the union demanded adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure since 2014; payment of all withheld April and May 2018 salaries of its members and withheld salaries in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri; Jos University Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The health workers also called for a review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance; implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria Alternative Dispute Resolution Consent judgment and other court judgments; increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals.
Others are payment of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantee fairness and justice to all concerned, payment of actual 30 per cent consolidated basic shift duty allowance to Nurses/Midwives and others; payment of teaching allowance to members on CONHESS 7 and 8 (Nurses, Midwives and others) and proper placement of Nurse Graduates and Interns, among others