Lorine Emenike
The Rivers State Chapter of the Civil Society Organization has condemned the recent threats by the federal government to sack any striking health worker of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, who refuses to return to work within 48 hours.
The CSO described such threats as high-handedness.
Chairman of the group, Georgewill Enefaa, told our reporter, Lorine Emenike, that the federal government lacks the power to sack the striking health workers just because they didn’t go to work.
The civil society organizations also faulted the federal government for failing to fulfill its agreement with the striking health workers.
Georgewill argued that for the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari and other prominent Nigerians prefer medical treatments abroad, it shows that the country’s health sector needs reform, adding that they are in solidarity with the striking health workers.
In a circular with reference number, DHS /166 /T2 / 220, and dated May 28, 2018, which was addressed to the chairmen of all the governing boards of health agencies, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewale, said any striking health worker that failed to resume work within 48 hours would be dismissed .
He further stated that any person on the level of assistant director and above has no right to join the strike as he or she is part of the management staff.
