FG doing everything possible to end strike, Minister

The Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole, says the Federal Government is doing every possible to end the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike by Joint Helath Sector Union (JOHESU).

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Osogbo, Adewole said that Federal Government was not happy with the strike.

“The JOHESU strike will soon be over. The Federal Government is doing everything possible to bring the strike to an end,” Adewole said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Medial Association (NMA), Osun branch, has accused JOHESU members of harassing medical doctors at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun.

Dr Tokunbo Olajumoke, the Osun NMA Chairman, made the allegation at a news conference in Osogbo on Saturday.

Olajumoke, who noted that the doctors were ready to work and provide proper healthcare services to patients, said that JOHESU members were not allowing them to perform their duties.

He said JOHESU members in the hospital locked up critical facilities that the doctors needed to work with in order to frustrate the doctors.

Olajumoke, however, said that doctors would continue to do their jobs and render healthcare services to the people regardless of the JOHESU strike.

He cautioned the striking JOHESU members to desist from intimidating doctors, adding that the striking JOHESU members were desperate to create the impression that it was impossible for the hospital to exist without them.

He urged the management of the hospital to provide adequate security for the doctors in the hospital to enable them do their jobs.

According to Olajumoke , the association is not opposed to salary increment as being agitated by JOHESU but granting such request will warrant similar fresh demand for salary increment by doctors too.

“The management of OAUTHC should without further delay provide adequate security to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

“Tentatively, ad hoc staff should be temporarily employed to assist in the smooth running of the hospital.

In his reaction, the National Media Officers of JOHESU, Mr Godwin Ogbonna, said the allegation by NMA was not true, adding that JOHESU members did not attack or harass any doctor at OAUTHC.

NAN recalls that JOHESU embarked on an indefinite strike on April 18 for upward adjustments of consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), employment of additional health workers, among other demands.