Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Association, AHPA, have suspended their seven-day warning strike effective from midnight October 31 in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, and in general public interest.

The National Chairman of JOHESU, Mr Kabiru Minjibir, said this in a communiqué jointly signed by Mr Martin Egbanubi, National Secretary of the union on Thursday in Abuja.

It said that the decision to suspend the warning strike was taken at an emergency meeting of the Expanded National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union.

It added that the expanded NEC comprised the Presidents and General Secretaries of JOHESU affiliate unions and professional Associations, National Executive Council, NEC, members of affiliate Unions and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at the State and Branch levels.

The communiqué said NEC-in-Session critically appraised the various reports and the MoU signed between the JOHESU team and the Federal Government team during the conciliation meeting held on October 29 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“NEC-in-session after extensive deliberations resolved that the suspension of the seven-day warning strike effective from midnight, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024 in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and in general public interest.

“Time line of six weeks given to the Federal Government to meet all her obligations contained in the MoU.

“Expanded NEC meeting shall be convened upon the expiration of the six (6) weeks’ deadlines to review development and take appropriate decisions.

“Indefinite strike action shall be the next option if the Expanded NEC of JOHESU is not satisfied with the Federal Government responses to the implementation of her obligations contained in the MoU,” it said.

The demands of the unions include immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, payment of 25 per cent CONHESS Review arrears, payment of nine months’ salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies.

Others were the restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council, reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institution, commencement of the process to upwardly review retirement age of health workers, among others.