Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has called for the immediate sack of the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole.
The decision was an indication that the workers have lost confidence in the ability of the Minister to resolve the lingering industrial dispute in the health sector.
They said that the Minister has deliberately turned himself into major hindrance to fruitful deliberation to end the strike.
JOHESU National President Biobelemoye Josiah told journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday that the Minister has never disguised his intention to symbolize what he described as the propaganda machine of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), through his posturing at previous meetings.
The union head said that the Minister is not worthy of overseeing the country’s health sector and should be relieved of his duty as quickly as possible to avoid further healthcare crises in Nigeria.
He suggested that the Federal Government re-energise the deadlocked negotiations between JOHESU and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, with genuine conciliators who have national interest in mind.
He specifically proposed a befitting budget to offset the already compromised three options presented by JOHESU to the government and be made available through interventions facilitated by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
He also suggested that government implement the contents of the September 30, 2017 terms of settlement it agreed with the workers.
Meanwhile, the unions have threatened to boycott further discussions with government if the report that it approached the court on the strike matter was true.