JOHESU strike paralyses health activities at FMC, Keffi

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Federal Medical Centre(FMC), Keffi in Nasarawa state has joined the nationwide indefinite strike.
The JOHESU Chairman of the centre, Mr.Achimugu Isaiah, disclosed this to news men Wednesday while declaring the strike during the union meeting in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of state.
Peoples Daily gathered that all other health workers complied with the strike except the medical doctors who are not members of JOHESU.
Our correspondent gathered that some of the demands of the union include:-upward adjustment of salary scale, employment of additional health professionals, review of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years, implementation of court judgment among others.
Isaiah stressed that they have decided to joined their colleagues in the strike following a directive from the national body.
According to him, “the primary aim of every health worker is to see that the welfare of patients is improved but health workers have no option rather than to embark on the strike in order to improve on the health status of Nigerians.
He opined that in September 2017, the Federal Government and JOHESU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the promised that they will within five weeks implement the demands of the union.
“This is the sixth month and nothing has been done by the federal government. We have been given the mandate by our national body to embark on a full strike. It is on this note and based on the strength and power given to me by sister unions, I declare the indefinite strike as directed by our national body,” he added.
He continued, “No implementation, no coming back to work. I want to direct all unit heads to lock your offices and hand over keys to your head of departments.
Reacting on the strike Dr.Luka Samuel, the Acting Medical Director of the centre
appealed to JOHESU members to have a rethink and return to work in the interest of the health sector.
He added that strike would only bring untold hardship to many Nigerians, especially the less privileged ones who do not have the means to access private health care services.