The National Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, Mr. Biobebelemoye Josiah has decried the actions of Nigerian doctors to frustrate the ongoing talks aimed at resolving the strike embarked upon by members of the union four weeks ago.
Mr. Josiah revealed the Ministry of Health is collaborating with medical doctors to overturn JOHESU’s demands from the government.
The Minister for Health, Professor Isaac Ajewole had earlier revealed negotiations were ongoing to resolve the strike.
“Negotiations are still on with JOHESU and the Minister of Labour is leading the negotiation, and we expect that we will conclude on all issues very soon,” he said.
The President of JOHESU, however, said the action of the minister shows he is not serious about ending the strike as he is supporting the medical doctors against JOHESU.
“This very agreement was entered into and then a memo was made to Mr. President as they claimed even though they gave us a copy later.
“When they made this memo, it was in December and the ministry of health defended her budget in February but did not deem it to include that the amount it worked for the payment or settlement of this very issue.
“This goes a long way to show that there was dishonesty, insincerity from the beginning on the part of the ministry (Federal Ministry of Health) because most probably the minister is a doctor; minister of state (Health) is a doctor and minister of labour who is supposed to be the chief negotiator, is also a medical doctor.’’
