The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has embarked on a 7-day warning strike after the 14 days ultimatum it gave to the Federal Government to meet its demands expired on Wednesday.

The union has issued a communique announcing the strike after a meeting with the government had failed to bring up a resolution.

The announcement of the strike is on the heels of the decision of the government to hold off on the sacking of the 14,000 striking resident doctors.

JOHESU – in a statement signed by its President and leader of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Biobelemoye Josiah and Abdurafiu Adeniyi, National President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNMW) – revealed that it was unable to reach a common ground with the Federal Government and had therefore chosen to embark on the warning strike action.

One of the demands made by the union is the implementation of the circular on salary adjustment done for the medical doctors and implementation of all agreements of May 10, 2012, by the past administration.

Another is the issuance of circular for the implementation of specialist allowance for members, in line with the 2009 agreement.

The statement said in part, “Following repeated ultimatum totalling 92 days issued to the Federal Government by JOHESU, a meeting was called on Monday, June 20th, with a view to resolving the issues in dispute.”

“However, the Federal Government was not ready for the meeting and therefore pleaded that meeting be shifted to Tuesday 21st June.”

“At the meeting it was observed that despite the series of meetings earlier held with the committees and subcommittees set up to look into the various issues nothing was done by the government.”

“To our outmost surprise the Federal Government asserted that there was no agreement on the issues upon which the erstwhile Secretary to the Federal Government set up a sub-committee.”

“We therefore directed all our members in Federal Tertiary institutions to proceed on a seven-day warning strike.”

“We appeal to the general public to bear with us and impress it on the Federal Government to meet the demands of the unions to prevent the warning strike from becoming a full blown indefinite strike.”