Another strike looms in health sector, pharmacists, kick against injustice

Unless the Federal Government meets the 12-point demand of the Nigerian Health Workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Professionals AHPA) within 24 hours, the nation might experience another strike in the sector.
The threat to issue an indefinite strike action is coming as members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on Thursday
kicked against what they termed “gross injustice” by government which they accused of denying “reward for labour“.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, President of PSN, Olumide Akintayo, alerted that the country would soon experience another round of indefinite strike by health workers if after 24 hours, government fails to address the agitations of the workforce.
He bemoaned the gross disparity that has been allowed among the workforce which he said has resulted in “a whole generation of pharmacists and health workers stagnated on the same salary scale for upwards of 10 years in many instances”.
Akintayo said: “In some other dimensions, pharmacists and health workers who have invested personal resources on professional and manpower development are denied reward for labour as government which showed initial interest in remunerating the fellowship programme has succumbed to the blackmail of Nigerian doctors who insist through the proclamation of Professor Chukwu-led Ministry of Health that it is only doctors who can be designated consultants.”
This he said was “contrary to international best practice and a 1976 public service circular that recognises consultancy status for eligible health professionals”
The threat to go on strike by the health workers is coming barely two months after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) called off its seven weeks strike which paralysed healthcare delivery in the country.
Akintayo said government has failed to come up with circulars backing up all agreements reached by the parties after it appealed to the health workers to shelve its earlier strike embarked upon last January.
“I wish to put on record that seven months after we commenced a robust attempt to redress the unfortunate status quo in healthcare in Nigeria, we are still left in the cold.
“Government as a matter of fact has traded off salient MoUs it signed with us in a bid to placate the doctors when they embarked on their unlawful and illegal strike for seven weeks between July and August,” Akintayo stated.
He listed some of the reneged areas which the health workers are demanding issuance of circulars to include non- promotion of members from salary CONHESS 14 to 15 as Directors having stayed on same salary for between 4 to 15 years.
Others are immediate release of circular on adjustment of salary since January 2014 and immediate payment of at least two months arrears while the remaining is paid after being accommodated in the 2015 budget; immediate release of circular on extension of retirement age to be back-dated to February 2014 when the issue was presented to the National Council on Establishment.
They also demanded immediate and full payment of arrears of salaries of CONHESS 10 skipping outstanding since 2010 and; and immediate amendment of the circular on Consultancy status as pronounced by National Industrial Court on July 22 2013, and agreed to at a meeting of August 12, 2014 with the federal government among others”.
Akintayo warned the reality of a strike is not unlikely despite the maturity of JOHESU and AHPA as it is apparent that government would not bulge until another round of disruption in health services becomes a reality.
*Daily Independent