JOHESU/AHPA to FG: Readdress funding of regulatory agencies

…Gives Sanwo-Olu 15-day strike ultimatum

By Doris Obinna

Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), the body of health workers, has urged the Presidency and National Assembly (NASS) to readdress the issue of funding the regulatory agencies in the sector before the Appropriation Bill is signed into law.

This is just as JOHESU has given the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a 15-day notice to go on strike to protest the failure of the state to fulfill its promises to health workers.

JOHESU made the demands in collaboration with the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA). JOHESU/AHPA is the umbrella body of four registered trade unions in the Health Sector – the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN); Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Non-Academic Staff of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU).

Others are the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Tertiary Health Institutions, Research Institutions, and Associated Institutions (SSA|UTHRIAI) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA).

The demands were contained in an open letter of protest to Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning, Abuja, signed by Ag. National Secretary, Comrade Matthew Ajorutu, on behalf of the National Chairman.

The letter partly reads, “We wish to brief you on the decision of the Budget Office to terminate the budgetary provision to all professional regulatory councils/bodies including those in the health sector.

“These include the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria; Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria; Radiographers Registration Board and Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria.

“Others are, the Dental Technologist Registration Board of Nigeria; the Dental Therapist Registration Board of Nigeria; the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Registration Board of Nigeria, and the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria.

“The rest are, the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria; the Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria; and Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria.”

Ajorutu said the directive of the Budget Office initially affected all the professional regulatory councils including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) which regulates Medical and Dental practice in Nigeria.