Health workers announce a 7-day nationwide warning strike.

The Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) in collaboration with the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) has declared a seven-day nationwide warning strike  starting from midnight of Friday, October 25, 2024.

The National President of JOHESU, Kabiru Minjibir, announced this decision following an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja where the unions discussed the lack of positive response from the federal government on critical issues.

Minjibir stated that despite repeated assurances during meetings with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the government has not addressed the concerns raised by the health workers.

If the federal government fails to meet their demands at the end of the seven-day warning strike, JOHESU stated they will have no choice but to embark on an indefinite strike action.

The workers had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government on October 10, 2024, highlighting various demands including the implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of CONHESS Review arrears, salary payments to regulatory agency workers, restoration of funding to the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, reconstitution of boards/governing councils of federal health institutions, and the review of retirement age among others.

Other issues under contention included tax waivers on healthcare worker allowances, payment of COVID-19 hazard allowances to omitted health workers, the suspension of planned activities of the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency, withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures, and the implementation of approved allowances for holders of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

JOHESU includes members from various healthcare unions such as the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).