The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals, JOHESU, has suspended its nationwide warning strike, effective from midnight on October 31.
Health workers are set to return to work today, November 1, after a seven-day strike that began last Friday.
Cyber Reporters reports that the strike followed a 15-day notice to the Federal Government, highlighting unresolved issues affecting health workers nationwide.
JOHESU’s demands include significant adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, similar to the 2014 revisions to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, and a 25% review of arrears from June to December 2023.
Other key concerns include increasing the retirement age for health workers, exempting healthcare personnel allowances from tax, and immediate disbursement of COVID-19 hazard allowances.
Cyber Reports gathered that the strike’s suspension follows a hybrid emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council, NEC, where a six-week timeline was set for the federal government to meet its obligations outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU.
If these obligations are not met, JOHESU warns of an indefinite strike action.
JOHESU National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, confirmed the suspension in a statement, citing the union’s commitment to the MoU and public interest.
Minjibir said the union will reconvene after the six-week deadline to review progress and determine next steps.
The suspension likely follows a meeting between JOHESU leaders and President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.