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By Muinat Usman
Members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) chapter, have staged a peaceful protest over unmet demands and the stoppage of their salaries by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The protest followed an emergency congress of the union held at the UITH School of Nursing Complex, Amilengbe, and comes amid the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike embarked upon by JOHESU.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the Chairman of JOHESU-UITH, Mr. Oyelowo Olufemi, accused the Federal Government of gross insensitivity to the welfare of health workers under the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Mr. Olufemi explained that a 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) promised equal adjustment and recognition of CONHESS alongside the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), but noted that the agreement has been consistently ignored.
According to him, while CONMESS has been reviewed three times—in 2014, 2017, and 2018—CONHESS has remained unchanged, describing the disparity as the major reason for the ongoing strike.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Mr. Saka Abdullahi, alleged intimidation of union members by the UITH management.
Mr. Abdullahi accused the management of using the “no work, no pay” policy to compel workers to resume duty, and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene, noting that the agitation has lasted for over 12 years.
Reacting to the allegations, the Acting Head of the Corporate Affairs Unit of UITH, Mr. Abiodun Fagbemi, said the hospital management was fully aware of the national strike but denied claims of coercion, insisting that no worker had been forced to report for duty.
Meanwhile, protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No Compliance, No Compromise,” “Health Sector Can’t Work Without JOHESU,” and “Stop Discrimination in the Health Sector.”
JOHESU across federal health facilities had commenced an indefinite nationwide strike on November 14 last year to press home their demands.
