President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), a division of the Nigeria Labour Congress, to end their strike and resume work. The call was made during a meeting between the President and union leaders at the presidential office.
During the meeting, President Tinubu emphasized the significance of the health sector and made assurances to address the existing challenges within the system. He expressed his commitment to resolving all the problems and urged the union to trust in the discussions taking place. The President urged the union members to return to work, stating, “Please go back to work.”
In a statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information at the State House, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s determination to restore public trust in Nigeria’s health sector.
The Acting Chairman of JOHESU, Dr Obinna Ogbonna, expressed readiness to encourage members to resume work. However, he urged the President to make substantial investments in healthcare infrastructure and improve worker welfare to address the ongoing brain drain in the sector.
Dr Ogbonna stated, “Mr President, now that we have assurance from the top, we are encouraged to go back and talk to our members with a view to going back to work.”
Furthermore, Mr Olumide Akintayo, a member of the Union’s Executive Council, called on the Federal Government to be proactive in addressing labor issues to prevent them from escalating into significant industrial disputes.