Workers threaten to paralyse health sector

Onyebuchi

Federal health care workers have vowed to shut down the sector, if their demands, including the removal of the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, are not met.

National President, Joint Health Sector Unions, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, who spoke with reporters in Lagos on Monday, warned that delay in meeting the demands before April 2, might lead to a nationwide industrial action.

Their other demands include the promotion of health care professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15, implementation of the 2008 Health Workers Jobs Evaluation Report and the Justice Abdullahi Bello Presidential Committee Report on Harmony in the health sector.

He said, “We are going to shut down the whole system, if the Federal Government keeps dismissing our demands. We are going state by state to educate Nigerians on what we are facing. We are not being selfish but we cannot continue to be sidelined.”

Wabba accused health ministry officials of frustrating the union’s attempt to seek justice at the National Industrial Court.

He said, “The case before the Industrial Court is being frustrated. The ministry of health has refused to show up and submit briefs. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Also, the National Union of Allied Professional to Medicine, Mr. Felix Faniran, called on the President Goodluck Jonathan to remove immediately the minister and some chief medical directors of  Federal Government health institutions.

Chukwu, he said, had connived with the CMDs to deny qualified health care professionals from occupying managerial positions, especially in tertiary hospitals.

He said, “Why should university lecturers, who are honorary consultants to the teaching hospitals become heads of department or even chief medical directors. How can only doctors take decision about nursing, laboratory science, pharmaceutical practice in a hospital?”

PUNCH