The inability of the Federal Government to implement a Memorandum of Understanding entered into by the Federal Government with Health Workers in 2013, yesterday led to a protest by the Edo State Chapter of health workers, under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Union, in Benin City.
The disgruntled health workers, who were drawn from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Uselu, all wore black wrist bands, signifying a reflection of the poor state of the nation’s health sector.
Mr. Frank Igbinovia, the Edo State Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, said the Federal Government failed to implement a National Industrial Court verdict in favour of JOHESU.
He said the agreement had to do with the issues of non- payment of allowances and skipping of salary CONHESS 10, Call/Shift Duty.
The State Chairman stated, “We, who are in the health sector, are telling the government that, as far as health is concerned, they have scored zero per cent.
“If you have scored zero per cent in health, what it means is that you have scored zero in all. That is why we have come out to tell the government to answer us. We are not asking for too much.”
Mr. Wellington Ogieriakhi, the branch secretary of SSAUTHRIAI at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, said the Federal Government was showing a level of bias by instituting an “obnoxious” policy of no-work, no-pay, following the strike.
Ogieriakhi noted, “When doctors were on strike, there were no obnoxious circulars released concerning no work, no pay; they were paid their full salaries with their allowances.
“Now, we are on strike and the minister of health is intimidating us that we must come back to work or we won’t receive salaries. The bias is clear”.
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