By Doris Obinna
The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has urged the Federal Government to appoint some of its members as Chairmen of the Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) Boards.
It further pressed that FG prioritise the constitution of boards of management for FHIs in compliance with statutory provisions and conforms to vital Acts of Parliament governing specialist hospitals as well as ensuring that constituted FHI complies with vital healthcare legislation, including the University Teaching Hospitals Act, Federal Medical Centres Act.
JOHESU in statement signed by the National Chairman, Dr. Kabiru Minjibir and the National Secretary, Martins Egbanubi, receptively disclosed that its retired members including permanent secretaries and directors in the civil service, former presidents of professional associations, trade union leaders, and also experienced bureaucrats and administrators with proven track records are qualified for the appointments.
The statement, made during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, and a meeting of its National Leaders in Abuja, expressed optimism in the Minister’s position and commitment that capable and experienced individuals would be considered when the federal government is ready to officially establish the boards of management for FHIs.
JOHESU, while demanding for the waiver clause approved by the President, Bola Tinubu to allow the hiring of health workers to also include members, recommended that the establishment of a Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) through legislative action would improve the health system by ensuring proper procurement of drugs and other health consumables for public benefit.
The union further appreciated the Minister for promising fair recruitment and a thorough process with the waiver clause to ensure DRF implementation in all FHIs.
While it urged members to be calm as efforts will be maximised to attain all the goals, targets and objectives of it in the months ahead, it resolved that there was a need to widely communicate the election process to the state councils and branches in May 2024 to conduct a unified election across all JOHESU sub-national organs in June 2024.
While it further lamented the CONHESS adjustment, which has lingered after they met with the President on June 5, 2023, following a health worker strike and received assurances that the issue would be addressed, leading to the strike’s suspension, the union highlighted the ongoing challenges in achieving CONHESS adjustment for its members since 2014.
It said: “The non-actualisation of the promised CONHESS adjustment for 10 years has instilled restlessness in the value chain of its members as we urged the FHI to intervene to checkmate looming industrial unrest.”
While commending the Minister for promising to activate all the structures connected with the approval process of the CONHESS Adjustment, JOHESU decried the non-payment of arrears from June 2023 to January 2024 as well as the improper arithmetical calculations which did not factor in the basic salaries of beneficiaries in working out their taxable allowances.
It acknowledged the leadership of the President for approving their request to fund the 14 Professional Health Regulatory Councils, with support from the Coordinating Minister of Health and the Minister of State for Health, even though it was not included in the 2024 Appropriation Act.