Interview With NUPTAM National Chairman
Q1.Reasons for d strike in the Health Sector:
The origin of this could be traced to 1985-1993 when late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a medical practitioner and a leader of Nigerian Medical Association was the Minister of Health under Gen Ibrahim Babangida as Head of state. Olikoye discriminated against non ‘medical practitioners’ in many ways, namely:
Wrong interpretation of d phrase-”medically qualified “which he claimed meant ‘Medical Practitioners’ instead of “Health care Professionals’, the refusal to implement the Industrial Arbitration Panel/National Industrial Court ruling in favour of Nurses/Midwives on d issues of recognizing Nurses as a profession, creation of a directorate for them in the FMOH since then, the approval of a separate salary structure for Medical and Dental practitioners(MSS/MSSS in 1991 with fat allowances ) to the detriment of other professionals/workers. Regrettably, subsequent Ministers of NMA extraction-Profs Osotimehin and Onyebuchi Chukwu have been trying to do same.
The current decision of JOHESU is to put an end to these acts of neo-colonialism and Professionalism which NMA and her members backed by the Government through the Minister of Health have subjected other Health Professionals/workers to. Specifically, the current impasse is based on: A 10-point demand submitted to FMOH in Sept 2011- 4 issues referred to NIC in June 2012(Skipping of salary level CONHESS 10, Withdrawal of consultancy status from non -NMA members, Non- payment of Specialist allowance to allied health professionals. Refusal to honour March 2006 ruling of NIC on call duty and other professional allowances. Please note, agreement was reached on the 10th of May 2012 on five other. Issues viz;
1) promotion of health professionals from CONHESS 14 to 15.
(2),Call for implementation of )2008 Job evaluation exercise,
( 3) The Abdullahi Bello presidential committee report on Harmony.
(4)Upward review of retirement age as their counter parts in d Universities.
(5) Reconstitution of Boards of Hospitals to reflect the multi professional nature of d sector. Finally, the 10th point is-the removal of d Minister for discrimination.
Q2.On d issue of appeal:
I am not aware if the minister is honestly sincere about this .Labour issues of this nature end at the National Industrial Court. However if it is true, it means the Minister does not want peace in the health sector and Mr. President should do away with him immediately. Please be informed that both parties to the dispute-JOHESU/FMOH agreed inter-alia in June 2012 that the outcome of d NIC would be acceptable to us. Prof Chukwu is following the footsteps of his seniors-Profs Osotimehin and Ransome Kuti who connived with NMA leaders to unleash terror on other Health Professionals’/Workers by refusing to implement relevant awards .Enough is enough!
Q3. On why JOHESU, not individual union.
JOHESU is for an improved health care delivery nationwide: Each Union is autonomous and may embark on strike independently after fulfilling the approved rules but where all Unions have common cause, JOHESU comes in to play that role. In the case of NMA, it is not a registered Trade Union; therefore, anytime it embarks on strike, it does so illegally. Henceforth, any group or association which is not legally registered as a trade union and carries out trade union activities would be dealt with accordingly. Conglomeration/coalition of five registered Trade/Industrial Unions was formed in 2008 to promote unity, harmony and teamwork (end)
My dear President, hearken to the voice of reason. Do we give you the full profile of your minister how and why he was removed as Medical Director of Ebonyi State specialist hospital without his knowledge for actions such as this and other issues? We will, but in due time! Our health must not be played politics with by a minister who has shown his incompetence managing one hospital. If you could sack the minister of youth development, Mr. Inuwa Abdul-Kadir for acts not as grievous as Onyebuchi; do same to this minister of health.
This is the deciding moment of truth, a time to take a stand to collectively stop monopoly in the health sector. The actions we take today are the history which our generations will judge us with. Mr. President, think of the calamity that will happen should state and local government hospitals join this strike on 28th of August. JOHESU is on the way to Calvary and the NMA is acting the Romans, but, and it’s a big but; should they mount the deadly cross, there may be no savior and we will pay with our blood. What will posterity remember you for when this medical genocide takes place under your presidency?
Fejiro Oliver, a Journalist can be reached on secretsreporters@gmail.com and +2348026797588 (sms only please). You can now follow on twitter @fejirooliver86 and Facebook fejirooliver86
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