The Federal Government has reached a truce with health workers of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU and assembly of healthcare professions.
Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, made this known while addressing newsmen at the end of a five-hour conciliation meeting with the leadership of JOHESU in Abuja.
It would be recalled that JOHESU had on September 3 issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government to meet their demands or face an indefinite strike.
The Minster explained that an understanding was reached by both parties, the meeting was fruitful and that the Memorandum of Understanding would be signed next week, noting that they discussed in a fraternal way and reached an understanding on all the issues in dispute.
According to Ngige, this includes the enhancement of hazard allowance, review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, the arrears of the consequential adjustment of the national minimum wage. He added that understanding was reached on the upward adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure as done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
However, JOHESU President, Josiah Biobelemonye, noted that strike is not the way to go and expressed optimism that all issues raised by the unions would be positively attended to.
