JOHESU strike: Nurses, midwives begin full compliance

National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has directed all its members to stop all forms of skeletal services that were still being offered in some public hospitals since November 16 when the ongoing nationwide strike by Joint Health and Essential Services Union (JOHESU) began.
NANNM is a member of JOHESU.
In a press briefing after the National Executive Council meeting which held in Calabar, Cross River State Capital, the National President of NANNM, Abdrafiu Alani Adeniji, supported by other exco members of the association declared that they will not be cowed by neither antics nor blackmail of government with regards to the on-going JOHESU strike.
According to NANNM president, it is smirks irresponsibility for a government not to honour agreement freely entered into and also obey court orders.
His statement read in parts; “Arising from the obvious tactics of intimidation and brutalisation of our members in demanding their legitimate right and obvious exhibition of bias against JOHESU by the Federal Ministry of Health including the refusal of key officers of the ministry to attend the meeting of December 15, 2014, we are compelled to direct our members to suspend all forms of skeletal and concessional services in all healthcare facilities and ensure total compliance with the strike action.
“As a matter of necessity branch meetings should hold regularly for the enforcement of members’ rights and liberties and to resist any form of brutalisation, intimidation and oppression, through all legitimate means.
“Members should gird their loans for a long drawn battle if need be as we will not turn back until victory is achieved.”
The association categorized its demands into three folds which include: “Unconditional and immediate implementation of all collective bargaining agreement and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) signed with JOHESU. “Full implementation of all judgements in favour of JOHESU by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria NICON and implementation of all outstanding demands.“
NANNM disclosed further that the National Industrial Court had since ruled in its favour that the members are entitled to skipping of CONHESS10, that JOHESU members are eligible to be appointed as consultancy and should earn both consultancy and specialist allowances and that our members should be promoted to Directors on CONHESS 15.
It regretted whatever the public may be going through out of the ongoing strike and noted that the health system in the country has failed and its action is part of the efforts toward urging government to do that which is necessary and needful.
On the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), it recalled the contributions of nurses in the fight that contended the disease in the country and urged government to immortalise those gallant nurses and adequately compensate their families for losing their bread-winners.