The Joint Health Sector Union(JOHESU) in Ondo State has directed its members to resume today as it suspended its six-week old nationwide strike last Thursday night.
The directive was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of JOHESU and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations in Abuja and signed by its President, Biobelemoye Josiah, and Secretary, Florence Ekpebor.
According to the communique; "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 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 was neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse. We appreciate the solidarity, support and guidance of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, His Deputy and TUC in seeing to the resolution of this crisis as well as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other well meaning Nigerians for rising up to the occasion while the strike lasted.
"We appreciate our teeming members for their steadfastness, resoluteness and resilience during this period of trial. "JOHESU is not unmindful of the various threats, letters and circulars emanating from the Federal Ministry of Health and Managements of hospitals across the country. We however, urge our members to remain peaceful and law abiding in the face of intimidation and report any form of harassment to the national leadership. "We appreciate Nigerians for their patience and solidarity during the course of the avoidable strike. The Nigerian health sector shall witness a paradigm shift for the benefit of health care consumers."
In a related development, the Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Zachariah Gbelela has commended the group's effort for ending the nationwide strike.
Speaking with The Hope on phone, he said; "it is heartwarming and there is the need for us to work together as a team."
