JOHESU Suspends 6-week-old Strike

Segun Aina/

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has announced the suspension its six weeks nationwide strike.

The union’s Chairman, Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting today in Abuja.

He said the strike suspension followed the intervention of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and sympathy for the masses, but said negotiations over its demands will continue next week.

He announced the Senate President “has put some machinery in place with a view to permanently resolve the issues in contention.

“JOHESU considered Saraki’s intervention after holding just two meetings with the leadership, where serious progress was made and the gains presented to NEC of JOHESU after exhaustive deliberations.

“The NEC in the session approved that the six weeks old strike be suspended on May 31 because of sympathy for the suffering Nigerian masses and also pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday, June 4, 2018.’’

Biobelemoye appreciated the solidarity, support and guidance of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Dr Ayuba Wabba, his Deputy and Trade Union Congress for their efforts toward the resolution of the crisis.

He also commended the efforts of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and well-meaning Nigerians for rising to the occasion while the strike lasted.

Biobelemoye also commended Nigerians for their patience and solidarity “during the course of the avoidable strike,’’ while assuring that the nation’s health sector would witness a paradigm shift for the benefit of health care consumers.

“We commend the governments of Kano, Lagos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Delta and Edo states for their proactive moves in addressing labour concerns of our members in their domains and we implore other states to emulate the aforementioned states.

“We appreciate our teaming members for their steadfastness, resoluteness and resilience during this period of trial. We urge our members to remain peaceful and law abiding.’’

The union embarked on a nationwide strike on April 17, 2018 to press home its demands over allowances and welfare, which government signed on Sept. 30, 2017.

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