The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH), Ogbomoso has appealed to the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders to wade in their ongoing Industrial action.
The union said that there was need for quick intervention from all the stakeholders in the state to prevent the ongoing industrial dispute from transforming into full blown action.
A statement jointly signed by the chairmen of the various unions that constituted JOHESU noted that the union had embarked on industrial action because it is the only option available to drive their points home, saying the action is avoidable if all stakeholders were proactive enough.
Recall that the union had on Saturday, March 12 commenced a 10-day warning strike to press home their demands which they claimed was yet to be addressed in spite of several calls made.
The union appealed to the state government to make adequate funds available to LTH through annual budget provision and timely implementation.
They said that the effort would enable rapid development of the institution to promote training and retraining of health officers, proper career advancement as well as job motivation without restrictions.
The union said that the services available in the hospital could be attested to by the level of patronage across Nigeria, saying it could still be improved with better funding.
Among the demands listed by the union are payment of salary arrears for re-engaged staff for five, eight months respectively.
“Payment of Salaries of re-transferred members of Staff who have been working in LTH since April 2021 to be paid by the Hospital.
“Funds to effect the payment should be transferred from the State government in full to the Hospital. Financial implementation of 2018-2020 Promotion with payment of arrears effective from August 2021,”
The union demanded that issue of outstanding promotions which are associated with 2018-2020 promotion exercise should be addressed.
They called for promotion exercise to be conducted annually according to the Civil Service Rules for those who are duly qualified and the pay increase be effected promptly as at when due.
The union appreciated the magnanimity of Gov. Seyi Makinde on payment of backlog of salary arrears incurred by the previous administration.
They appealed to the governor to increase the amount released for payment of salary arrears to reduce the number of years to settle the arrears.
“With the current Payment schedule, it will take 9 years and some months to pay all, a period within which many would have retired from active service,” he said.
