Federal Government Is Committed To Resolving Dispute With JOHESU – Health Minister

Federal Government Is Committed To Resolving Dispute With JOHESU – Health Minister

The Federal Government has put up a reconciliation process towards amicable settlement of the trade dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said this in a statement issued by Boade Akinola, director of media and public relations of the ministry on Friday in Abuja.

The minister made remarks in reaction to the order of an interim injunction granted by the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja compelling the striking members of JOHESU to immediately resume duties.

He said the government waited for six hours on Thursday for JOHESU’s representatives to continue with the jointly agreed meeting which the union had earlier boycotted.

“Shortly after the adjournment of the boycotted meeting, an official communication titled: Collapse of negotiation between the Federal Government and Joint Health Sector Unions was issued by JOHESU,” he said.

He explained that in the document JOHESU said that negotiation with Federal government had broken down.

The Minister, however, maintained that government had not reneged on its commitment to promote peace and harmony in the health sector.

He added that the government would continue to engage in continuous dialogue on how to improve the sector.

Mr Adewole, therefore, urged the union to consider the plight of innocent Nigerians in need of health care and return to work while negotiation continues.

Mr Adewole also directed the chief medical directors and medical directors of tertiary hospitals to commence the process of documenting staff as they return to work and update the ministry accordingly.

(NAN)