Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has described the strike embarked on by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) as unnecessary, ill-timed and illegal.
Through a letter addressed to Ngige, the union had said that it would go ahead with the strike scheduled to begin on Sunday midnight. They cited the inability of the Federal Government to meet their demands as the reason for the strike.
Ngige has said that there are discussions ongoing between the JOHESU union and the Ministry of Health.
“Parties in disputes are expected not to arm-twist, intimidate or foist helplessness on the other party while negotiations are ongoing as per Sections 8 and 18 the of Trade Dispute Act (TDA) 2004.
“This bars any strike when the matters are before a Conciliator and undergoing conciliation.
“Any strike now is inimical to an equable settlement of the dispute, bearing in mind especially that this is a grave period of a pandemic where the Federal Government has spent about N20 billion to pay April/May 2020 hazard allowance.
“An additional N8.9 billion for June 2020 COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowances has also been approved to all categories of health workers that are mainly JOHESU members.
“Besides, all health workers on essential services -Pharmacists, Nurses/Midwives, Radiographers as members of JOHESU – are statutorily barred from strikes during emergencies, by both the ILO Statutes and the Trade Dispute Act 2004.
“Such an action while the nation battles the COVID-19 emergency accentuates its illegality, as it will compound and aggravate the challenges in health services, causing further risk and deaths to the sick in hospitals across the country,” he said.
He advised that the Ministry of Health and the Union resolve their issues and report back in four weeks.
