The congress of the Joint Heath Sector Union

 The congress of the Joint Heath Sector Unions (JOHESU) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Plateau State, has resolved not to agree to sit for any negotiation with the management of the tertiary hospital in a new twist over the industrial conflict with the hospital.

The five-hour long Monday meeting which took place at the old JUTH site at Gengere, was at the instance of the national body of the joint union, which directed that the local chapter to hands off the strike for the national body to take over.

The local JOHESU chairman, Comrade Mustapha Kabiru who explained the latest development to Daily Trust after the congress meeting, said a five-man team of national officers, headed by the National Vice President, Comrade Obinna Ogbonna, had met the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Edmund Banwat last week to sign an agreement to suspend the strike by yesterday.

"But the national officers came out of the meeting disappointed, that after a 6-hour meeting where the CMD agreed that there should be an implementation agreement, he (CMD) refused to sign the document. So the national officers directed that we hands off the strike, for the national office to take over. That is what we resolved on, today, at the congress meeting," Comrade Kabiru said.

Called for his reaction, the CMD, Professor Banwat said the management had resolved all local issues with the union, except national issues which can only be addressed by the Federal Ministry of Health. He said the issues of hospital consumables had been resolved with the union.

The on-going strike has dragged for over a month, turning the facility into a ghost of its former self.

The strike which had compelled the teaching hospital to discharge patients on admission, was embarked upon by pharmacists, nurses, medical technicians, administrative staff and other non-doctors, operating under the joint union.

JUHESU, had in the morning of March 7, sealed the gates of the tertiary health facility and turned back workers, alleging, among other things, that the management failed to utilize funds made available by the federal government to address their demands, including procurement of consumables like gloves, cotton wool, reagents and drugs.