Health workers in OAUTHC join indefinite strike

By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), May 25, 2023 Health workers in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), have joined their colleagues at Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Care Professional Association (AHPA) in their indefinite strike nationwide.
Comrade Abdullateef Adeyeni, the Chairman, Joint Action Committee of Union OAUTHC, made this known during an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Ile-Ife.
Adeyeni, who doubles as Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Universities’ Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SAUTHRIAI), said that the staff has been directed to stay away from work until they are called back to work.
The Chairman added that the strike embarked upon were authorised by the executive members of the unions. It was called because the federal government failed to meet their demands since 2009.
“Since 2009, two salary tables were created by the Federal Government, one for doctors and the other one for health workers; that of the doctors has been reviewed four times while our remains untouched.
“We pleaded with the present administration severally to consider the inflation and the value of the Naira, but all our efforts to review our salary structure proved abortive.
“Surprisingly, two weeks ago, the doctors said they needed another review, their fourth, and hurriedly, the government called them back, whereas they said that there was no money for us, but there’s money for doctors,” he said.
The Chairman explained that until fairness, justice, and equity are done, there cannot be peace in the health sector.
Adeyeni said that recently, the Federal Government approved 40 per cent peculiar allowance for all Federal workers, excluding health personnel.
According to him, union is demanding for immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in the federal health institutions.
Others include recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities in the payment of new hazard allowances and payment and inculcation of peculiar allowances to health workers under the JOHESU/AHPA.
He called for a speedy implementation of the increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants in the health professions.