Public Health Services Face Nationwide Shutdown as Affiliate Unions Join JOHESU Strike

Segun Atanda/

The public health sector in the country is about to be paralysed completely by midnight today.

This followed the decision of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) to join the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

The state chairmen, secretaries and the national officers of the MHWUN met in Abuja today and directed its members to join the ongoing strike by JOHESU.

Apart from MHWUN, other health sector workers expected to join the ongoing strike include, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

The have all been directed to stay off work from tomorrow morning.

NewsmakersNG obtained a copy of the directive issued to members by the Chairman of MHWUN in Lagos State, Comrade Rasaq Adio Falade, announcing the commencement of the strike.

The statement read: “A meeting State Chairmen and Secretaries with the National Officers of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria just ended at Ayuba Wabba House in Abuja.

“The meeting was convened to appraise the ongoing JOHESU National Strike Action and to update the State Chairmen and Secretaries about the progress made so far.

“At the meeting, the directive to all members of the coalition of unions under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) across the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Abuja to join the strike action by the midnight of Wednesday the 9th of May, 2018 was renewed and agreed to by all.

“It was also revealed and agreed that unless this battle is fought and won, the welfare and future career prospects of all health workers other than those of doctors shall be in serious jeopardy.

“By this directive therefore, all members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) are expected to commence the Strike Action by staying off work by the morning of Thursday the 10th May, 2018.”