The Federal Government on Monday went into a closed-door meeting with representatives of the Joint Health Staff Union to resolve issues that led to the ongoing strike of the union.
Members of the union had embarked on an indefinite industrial action on August 22.
The meeting is being attending by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu; and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji,
Others were representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and JOHESU.
Shortly before the meeting, Wogu told the media that he was optimistic that the meeting would end the strike, which started on Thursday.
He said the ministry would not fail in its reconciliatory and mediatory efforts aimed at ensuring that issues that led to the strike were resolved amicably.
“I hope that the strike would be called off at the end of the meeting.”
On his part, Chukwu said the ministry was ready to dialogue with the union to end the strike in the interest of all Nigerians, particularly patients.
“The whole issue is that we need to work in the interest of patients,” he said.
Aji, also called on the parties to sheath their sword and embrace dialogue.
He said: “We do know that the era of table banging is over.
“It is better we use our brains to solve challenges like this.
“The good thing is that all the parties are around and it is not a time for making of speeches but a time to address critical issues.”
Moshood Akinade, the Secretary-General of Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospital, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, said JOHESU was ready to call off the strike provided their demands were met.
Akinade said the union embarked on the strike to push home the need for government to meet 10 issues it had presented for the past 10 years.
He said: “It is true we started the strike in the mid-night of August 21.
“The strike was embarked upon, based on 10 issues that have been lingering for the past 10 years.”
He commended Wogu for his effort at ensuring that the difference was resolved.
JOHESU, which is the health workers’ umbrella, called out its members on an indefinite strike effective from 12 midnight of August 21, following the inability of the Federal Government to resolve the lingering issues between it and the health workers.
The union had on July 22 issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the recent ruling by the National Industrial Court on the 2009 agreement between the union and government.
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