Members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have been advised to exhaust all possible avenues in resolving their grievances to ensure industrial harmony in the State. The Head of Service (HOS), Barr Samuel LongJohn gave the advice at a meeting he held with representatives of JOHESU in his office in Port Harcourt. Barr. LongJohn noted that most of the issues raised such as 100 percent implementation of salary relativity approved by the Federal Government and the provision of cars for the Directorate cadre of their members were the sole prerogative of the State Governor.
On the ongoing salary verification, the Head of Service called for an objective analysis of the exercise and urged them to provide details on how they have been placed in a disadvantaged position. He said nominal rolls submitted by their respective departments were never comprehensive and often with errors, stressing that the management staff of the Ministry of Health has to enlighten the staff on the steps being taken to ensure that the right thing was done. The Head of Service, who agreed with the stand of the Union on the appointment of their members to head their respective departments instead of the present practice where staff of other professions are appointed as heads, said he would do everything within his powers to correct the wrong and ensure industrial peace and harmony in the State Public Service.
While presenting the position of the Health workers, the Chairman of NUPMTOAM, Dr. Chris Mbata thanked the Head of Service for effecting the payment of call duty and hazard allowances but requested that arrears of two years owed them be paid. He also expressed discontent on the 70 percent salary relativity and called for a 100 percent implementation based on the promise made by the State Governor to implement same when the economy improved. The Chairman also decried the situation where Medical Doctors are appointed to head Nursing and Medical Technologists as well as the non-provision of official cars for their members, among other welfare needs.
He promised to heed the advice of the Head of Service to engage in an exhaustive dialogue with Government in its bid to address their grievances as well as appeal to members of JOHESU to shelve the proposed strike action. Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Medical and Health workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Mrs. Beatrice Itubo and her counterpart in the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Mrs. Regina Kuru.
