Nigeria''s health system will be paralyzed if the government does not meet the demands of health workers in 30 days, the Joint Health Sector Unions (Johesu) announced.
This will be a mega strike. If it starts, then the states and local governments will come together. We'll paralyze the health system in Nigeria for the first time, stated Johesu's national vice president, Ogbonna Chimela.
During a telephone interview with Premium Times newspaper, the leader criticized the lack of seriousness of the authorities towards the organization, which brings together hospital workers, as well as doctors and dentists.
The sector already carried out a national strike last September to protest, among other issues, in demand of better wages, against delays in promotions and for better working conditions.
The call was also followed at that time by the National Association of Nurses and Midwives, then Johesu reached an agreement with the government.
However, Chimela assured that six months after the settlement, the government has not yet complied with any of their demands.
We can no longer sit and wait. We started this negotiation in 2009, in 2012 we reached an agreement. In 2014 there was also an agreement. All these meetings have culminated in an agreement without proper implementation, he expressed.
The Nigerian Medical Association considers many of the demands made by Johesu unacceptable, since it considers that doctors can not receive the same salary as other health workers.
Finally, Chimela recalled that his organization comprises 95 percent of the workforce in the health sector, while NMA is only five percent and takes the opportunity to marginalize them now that the doctors saw their requests met.