The Joint Health Sector Unions and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, which represent healthcare workers, have announced that they would participate in the impending nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress, which is expected to begin on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
The NLC has made preparations for a nationwide strike that will start on Wednesday.
The Congress further stated it could not fold its arms while Nigerians continued to experience the impacts of subsidy removal, which has resulted in immense misery, despite the fact that a court injunction prohibiting the congress from going on strike in June still exists.
The National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, in a conversation with newsmen stated that health workers were suffering from the economic downturn and were in need of a better life.
Dr Ogbonna remarked, “All the trade unions are one affiliate or the other to the Trade Union Congress and the NLC, so if the two of them unanimously agree on the strike, that means the unions in the health sector, the academics, private and other industries will be involved.
“So, it will be very dangerous if we have to embark on the strike. Even NANNM will join the strike because it is an affiliate of NLC.”
Ogbonna, however, issued a warning against criminals seizing control of the strike.
In another twist, Doctor Uche Ojinmah, president of the Nigerian Medical Association, announced that the nation’s medical professionals will not be participating in the scheduled strike by the NLC.
“We are not a member of the NLC, so we will not join the strike,” Ojinmah said.
cc: Punch Ng
