Health workers end nationwide strike

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), the umbrella body of health workers, on Wednesday formally suspended its six-day old strike action, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the union and the Federal Government.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in a press briefing on Wednesday vowed that another strike in the health sector 'will not happen again.'

Chukwu said the  MoU will be implemented while the appeal registered by the Federal Government at the National Industrial Court in respect of the disputed issues will still continue.

He said, 'As at yesterday (Tuesday), both government and JOHESU committed themselves to ensuring that Nigerians don't go through this again. As you know, the decision of NIC was partly favourable to the union and partly favourable to the government. But there were issues for which the Federal Ministry of Health require some clarification. We decided that the decision of the NIC by law can go on, while the MoU reached is being implemented.'