BY VICTORIA OJEME

Health workers, under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JHSU) weekend vowed to continue with the on-going strike action embarked upon on Wednesday , 9th February, 2011, except President Goodluck Jonathan removes the Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Members of the Union, comprised of the Nigerian Union of Pharmacists, Medical Technologists and Professions Allied to Medicine(NUPMTAM), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives(NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), in a communiqué issued in Abuja, also called for the restoration of the suspended Teaching Allowances for Health workers, among other issues.

The jointly signed document by National President, NUPTPAM, F. O Faniran; General Secretary of NANNM, Comrade George Ayua; General Secretary of MHWUN, Comrade Marcus Omokhuale and General Secretary ofSSAUTHRIAI, Comrade M. O Akinade, has since been sent to the Minister of Labour and Productivity for consideration.

The Union, in the communiqué, condemned the withdrawal of the teaching as well as rural posting allowances, in a circular by the Health Minister. “The Presidency is hereby called upon to relieve him of his duties for the sake of industrial harmony in the health sector that is already at the verge of total collapse,” it stated.

They also demanded withdrawal of the offending circulars on Teaching Allowance for Health Professionals, Rural posting Allowance, stagnation of promotion for members on CONHESS 14 – 15, appointment of other health professional cadres as consultants, lopsided implementation of approved schemes of service pending the recommendation of the presidential committee on the issues at stake.