Government will obey court decision on Health workers' demands--Nigeria Minister
(Nigeria) The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi
Chukwu, said on Wednesday that the Federal Government would abide by
the judgment of the National Industrial Court on health workers demands.
Chukwu made the statement when he addressed newsmen in Abuja on the recently suspended health workers’ strike.
He told newsmen that as a government that had respect for the rule of law, the Federal Government had no alternative than to implement the judgment of the court.
Chukwu told newsmen that “while this implementation (of the court ruling) is going on, it does not stop government from pursuing any other issues in the court of law.
``But the important thing is that it gets the workers back to work and ensures that Nigerians and other residents within Nigeria and even visitors are availed of the services of health care professionals.
``The government has already indicated and has already filed an appeal but since there is no definite court order on stay of execution, we felt we should go ahead and begin the implementation,’’ Chukwu said.
He said while the implementations were going on, the authorities would continue to negotiate with the health workers on other areas where compromise had not been reached, or where necessary, file an appeal.
Chukwu said the Federal Government planned a Presidential Committee to fashion out ways to guarantee a harmonious relationship between it and professionals in the health sector.
The minister promised to look into the protest by the workers that a nurse was not appointed as the chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
`` Even though the law did not specify that a nurse be appointed, going by precedence, tradition fairness and equity, since we have eligible nurses, who can, indeed be chairperson or chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council, it should be a nurse,’’ he said.
Justice B.A. Adejumo of NIC had on July 23 delivered judgment in favour of the health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), in suit No NICN/ABJ/238/2012, filed by the workers.
JOHESU wants those earlier appointed as consultants to continue to enjoy the status with all benefits and that the withdrawal of their letters of appointment be declared irregular, null and void.
The union also asked that the consultants be immediately restored to their positions with full pay and their arrears paid.
The group also contended that skipping of Consolidated Health Workers Salary Scale (CONHESS) 10 was legal and the purported circular of the Ministry of Health and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stopping it was illegal, null and void.
The non-implementation of the judgment led to a nationwide strike last, which paralysed activities in Federal Government-owned hospitals.
He told newsmen that as a government that had respect for the rule of law, the Federal Government had no alternative than to implement the judgment of the court.
Chukwu told newsmen that “while this implementation (of the court ruling) is going on, it does not stop government from pursuing any other issues in the court of law.
``But the important thing is that it gets the workers back to work and ensures that Nigerians and other residents within Nigeria and even visitors are availed of the services of health care professionals.
``The government has already indicated and has already filed an appeal but since there is no definite court order on stay of execution, we felt we should go ahead and begin the implementation,’’ Chukwu said.
He said while the implementations were going on, the authorities would continue to negotiate with the health workers on other areas where compromise had not been reached, or where necessary, file an appeal.
Chukwu said the Federal Government planned a Presidential Committee to fashion out ways to guarantee a harmonious relationship between it and professionals in the health sector.
The minister promised to look into the protest by the workers that a nurse was not appointed as the chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
`` Even though the law did not specify that a nurse be appointed, going by precedence, tradition fairness and equity, since we have eligible nurses, who can, indeed be chairperson or chairman of Nursing and Midwifery Council, it should be a nurse,’’ he said.
Justice B.A. Adejumo of NIC had on July 23 delivered judgment in favour of the health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), in suit No NICN/ABJ/238/2012, filed by the workers.
JOHESU wants those earlier appointed as consultants to continue to enjoy the status with all benefits and that the withdrawal of their letters of appointment be declared irregular, null and void.
The union also asked that the consultants be immediately restored to their positions with full pay and their arrears paid.
The group also contended that skipping of Consolidated Health Workers Salary Scale (CONHESS) 10 was legal and the purported circular of the Ministry of Health and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stopping it was illegal, null and void.
The non-implementation of the judgment led to a nationwide strike last, which paralysed activities in Federal Government-owned hospitals.
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