SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s striking health workers under the umbrella Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) Thursday cancelled their crushing 6-week old strike effective Thursday, 31st May, 2018 and credited Senate President Bukola Saraki for the suspension following his intervention in the faceoff between the union and the federal government.
THEWILL recalls that JOHESU had proceeded on a nationwide strike action on 17th April 2018 following the government’s inability to honour agreements between both parties. Workers offered very limited services during the strike.
Announcing the suspension of the strike at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of the unions held in Abuja, Comrade Josiah Biobelemoye, National Chairman, JOHESU said the suspension is to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday 4th June 2018.
Biobelemoye who briefed the media in the presence of the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Ayuba Wabbara and other leaders of the unions expressed dismay and the insincerity and callousness exhibited during negotiations by the government.
The union leader said: “Due to the intervention of His Excellency, the Senate President, Senator (Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki who through his love for the suffering masses displayed high level of statesmanship and sincerity of purpose by putting some machineries in place with a view to permanently resolving the issues in contention. JOHESU having considered his intervention after holding just two meetings with leadership, where serious progress were made.
“The various gains from the meetings with His Excellency, the Senate President were presented to the NEC of JOHESU, after an exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six (6) weeks old strike be suspended this day Thursday, 31st May, 2018 because of the sympathy the Unions have for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday 4th June, 2018.
“We would like to place on record that JOHESU strike actions is neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse.”
