Civil servants in Abia State working in health sector under the aegis if Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have agreed to call of their industrial actions after 72 days off duty.
The workers in a statement dated January 13th jointly signed by their Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, Head of Service Abia State Sir Onyii Wamah, and the Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, agreed to return to duty after the approval and implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The CONHESS implementation, according to the agreement, is to be enjoyed by all healthcare workers in the State civil service and local government areas as signed by the State government’s representatives and nine labour leaders.
It was also resolved that no worker who participated in the long strike, which commenced on November 3, 2020, would be victimized.
Reacting to the development, Ogbonnaya commended Ikpeazu for approval and implementation of the JOHESU demands, especially CONHESS issues
Ogbonnaya also applauded the commitment of the State government in payment of salary arrears to the Abia State health institutions and for approving funds as running cost to the 17 LGAs health secretaries with a view to stopping the incessant illegal deductions from workers’ salaries in the primary health care system.
It would be recalled that workers in the State health sector have been on strike since November 3 in demand for payment of their salaries arrears, stoppage of illegal monthly dedications, poor working conditions, and poor facilities among others.
Checks by News Echo in Umuahia confirmed that the health workers have received some months of their salary arrears while the remaining unpaid wages are set to be defrayed, according to the agreement between the two bodies.
