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  • AHPA, JOHESU laud FG for defraying held salaries

    AHPA, JOHESU laud FG for defraying held salaries

    The Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have commended the Federal Government for paying off their withheld April and May salaries.

    The acting National Secretary of JOHESU, Mathew Ajurotu, stated this in a statement on Sunday.

    It said said some of its members in FMC, Owerri, JUTH and LUTH were yet to receive their April and May 2018 salaries.

    The government had withheld the April and May 2018 salaries of JOHESU and AHPA members after the health workers embarked on a strike.

    According to the statement, “We find it very necessary to put on record our deep appreciation of efforts to get JOHESU/AHPA members paid their long withheld April and May, 2018 salaries due to high wire schemes and intrigues of our sector which played out at high levels and compelled the avoidable and unnecessary seizures of the salaries of our members.

    “It is also very important to thank the Presidency for ensuring that some significant sums of money were budgeted to cater for special personnel wages in all sectors including Health,” the statement noted.

    Also Read

    Strike: JOHESU, AHPA sue for peace until FG meets demands

    The statement was titled, ‘Update on the demand for adjustment of CONHESS as done for CONMESS and other demands of JOHESU/AHPA.

    The unions urged the government to speedily implement their demands in order to avoid health workers’ strike which had been suspended.

    “It is necessary to inform all stakeholders that various consultative meetings of the JOHESU/AHPA leadership and NEC are slated from the week of August 20 and September 7, 2022. One of the critical items on the agenda remains progress report on the suspended JOHESU strike which was an effort demonstrated to show respect to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “In other that things don’t degenerate from the strategic junctures of the personal intervention of President Buhari, we respectfully call on the Presidency to immediately prevail on the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, in particular, to resolve all contending issues promptly,” the statement added.

    The demands of the union include Adjustment of CONHESS as was done for CONMESS; payment of reviewed hazard allowances and other welfare packages as well as the implementation of Consultant Cadre for Pharmacists in the public service.

    Stakeholders are hopeful that the salaries paid would pave the way for improved relationship between the unions and the federal government.

  • Strike: JOHESU, AHPA sue for peace until FG meets demands

    Strike: JOHESU, AHPA sue for peace until FG meets demands

    The national leadership of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have appealed to their members to be patient until the Federal Government meets their demands.

    Mr Matthew Ajorutu, the JOHESU Acting National Secretary, said this in a statement issued on behalf of JOHESU National Chairman at the end of the union meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the union on Oct. 5, suspended its threat to disrupt normal services in hospitals and other healthhcare facilities across the country and return to the negotiating table with the federal government on Wednesday.

    According to Ajorutu, JOHESU leadership reviewed the totality of the meeting of Oct. 6, at the instance of the federal government team, comprising the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Budget Office, and Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    “Others are the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSOF), Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which was graced by JOHESU/AHPA leadership.

    ”After a thorough evaluation of the meeting, JOHESU/AHPA resolved and applauded the decision of the meeting to guarantee the participation of all the five Trade Unions and AHPA at the sessions relating to matters pertaining to Adjustment of CONHESS.

    “This is with strong emphasis that this guarantees the laudable spirit of participatory industrial democracy.

    ”JOHESU/AHPA welcomed the constitution of a 7-man technical team at the meeting comprising two representatives of JOHESU, and one representative each of the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Budget Office, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    ”Others are the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSOF), Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS),” he said.

    He said the union also called on the technical team to fulfil its mandate of coming up with an acceptable sum dedicated to the utilisation of adjustment of CONHESS within a reasonable timeline.

    He further said JOHESU/AHPA approved the timeline of two weeks in the first instance that was resolved by the committee at the Oct. 6, meeting as a step in the right direction.

    ”JOHESU/AHPA mandated the Federal Government team led by the Minister of the Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure that whatever sum was approved for adjustment of CONHESS was accommodated in the N80 billion budget proposal for salary adjustment of the Federal Ministry of Health.

    ”Or other sources the Federal Government employs in defraying such emergency expenditure particularly, because of the tortuous path JOHEUS/AHPA embarked on in the last eight years of agitating for this adjustment.

    ”The union reminded the FMoH to immediately circularise positions canvassed by JOHESU/AHPA to sanction erring Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Federal Health Institutions that refused to implement the Circular.

    ”That is on Consultant Cadre from the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation for Pharmacists which have been implemented by less than 10 of the 56 FHIs in the country,” he said.

    He therefore said that JOHESU/AHPA requested that the FMoH should conclude negotiations with the union on all other subject matters as epitomised in the demand list of JOHESU/AHPA to the federal government.

    Ajorutu added that JOHESU/AHPA also requested that the FMoH should conclude negotiations with JOHESU/AHPA on all other subject matters as epitomised in the demand list of the unions to the federal government.

    ”Finally, JOHESU/AHPA appealed to its members to wait patiently for the outcome of the report of the Technical team on adjustment of CONHESS and other demands as this will realistically form the basis of the next line of action for JOHESU/AHPA in the days to come,”nhe urged.

  • JOHESU shelves plans to shutdown healthcare services in Nigeria

    JOHESU shelves plans to shutdown healthcare services in Nigeria

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have suspended their threat to shut down healthcare services in the country.

    The unions had earlier threatened to disrupt normal services in hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country over Federal Government’s inability to meet their members’ demands.

    Mr Matthew Ajorutu, the JOHESU Acting General National Secretary, said this in a communique issued on behalf of JOHESU National Chairman on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Ajorutu said the decision to put on hold their planned industrial action was taken in the interest of giving the federal government an ample opportunity to meet their demands.

    Recall that the union had on Sept. 2, issued the federal government a 15-day ultimatum to meet its demands without which it will embark on nationwide strike at the expiry date.

    The union however stepped down the notice of strike that expired mid-night Sept. 17 and issued a fresh notice of 15 days.

    Ajorutu said that the decision was reached at the end of an emergency meeting of the union’s expanded National Executive Council(NEC) held on Monday in Abuja.

    He also said the decision was unanimously reached by “the Presidents and General Secretaries of affiliate unions and Professional Associations, NEC members of affiliate unions and JOHESU Chairmen and Secretaries at the State and branch levels.

    ”The leadership of JOHESU reasoned that it was necessary to give the Federal Government a conducive environment to present an update on developments with regards to the major demands of JOHESU.

    ”This, especially in the area of adjustment of CONHESS as it was done with CONMESS while also showing evidence based data of the circularisation of the redress of all highlighted service delivery challenges peculiar to members of JOHESU.

    “The expanded NEC lauded the Federal Government for the marginal paradigm shift in resolving some of its demands particularly as it relates the on-going payment of outstanding COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance.

    “In a bid to avoid an endless circus show, the leadership of JOHESU needs to make it unambiguously clear that the meeting with the Federal Government on Wednesday, October 6, will be the ultimate litmus test to evaluate the seriousness of the Federal Government to resolve once and for all.

    ”The tortuous subject matter of adjustment of CONHESS which has lingered since January 2, 2014 (almost 8 years) now and also determine the depth of industrial harmony in the Health Sector.

    “Finally, NEC-in-Session unanimously adopts a resolution to put on hold the notice of strike action due to expire mid-night today, October 4, and wait for the outcome of the meeting with Federal Government on October 6, before issuing a fresh notice of fifteen days,” the communiqué read in part.

  • JOHESU threatens another strike, issues 15 days ultimatum to FG

    JOHESU threatens another strike, issues 15 days ultimatum to FG

    The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association have issued the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum, saying they will commence an indefinite strike over outstanding welfare issues with the union.

    Mr Biobelemonye Josiah, JOHESU’s National President, said this in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, and other relevant stakeholders on Saturday in Abuja.

    Josiah said that the 15-day ultimatum was necessitated by the non-challant attitude of government to the plight of its members.

    According to Josiah, the welfare issues include adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES) as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since 2014, payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of our members and withheld Salaries in Federal Medical Center, Owerri, JUTH and LUTH, review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance, implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Consent judgment and other court judgments, increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals.

    ”Others are payment of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantee fairness and justice to all concerned, payment of actual 30 per cent consolidated basic shift duty allowance to Nurses/Midwives and others.

    ”Payment of teaching allowance to members on CONHESS 7 and 8 (Nurses, Midwives and others) and proper placement of Nurse Graduates and Interns,” he said.

    JOHESU president also said others include payment of outstanding salaries of intern health professionals and all the Tertiary Health Institutions, proper implementation of the consultant pharmacist cadre for pharmacists in the public sector, among others.

    According to him, “you will recall that up till the time of writing this letter, the Federal Government has not deemed it fit to honour the Terms of Settlement entered into with JOHESU since September 2017.

    ”This is especially the upward review of CONHESS Salary Structure as agreed, to be completed within five weeks from the date of agreement amongst other requests.

    ”Government did not deem it fit to address these key issues during the duration of the last seven days warning strike and has only met with JOHESU on July 12,” he said.

    Josiah said that it would also be recalled that on July 2020, that the Minster of Health agreed that a mistake was made by government in the payment of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowances.

    He noted that the shortfall was in the payment of 50 per cent Basic of Consolidated allowances to all those Health Workers. It was a mistake on the part of government and the shortfall shall be paid according to affected health workers.

    He added that up till the time of this letter, the shortfall has not been paid. To make matters worse, when the payment for June 2020 was made, government decided to again wrongfully pay 10 per cent of Consolidated Basic Allowances to our members affected by the shortfall of April and May 2020.

    ‘This is in contravention of the spirit and content of the MoU signed on April 21, 2020.

    ”JOHESU, in compliance with the provision of Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act Cap.T8 LFN 2004, is constrained to give the Federal Government of Nigeria 15 days ultimatum with effect from September 3.

    ”This also is to inform you that with effect from midnight of September 17, all our members in the Federal Health Institutions shall embark on an indefinite strike action in all state and Local Government health institutions.

    ”You are all placed on red alert for the strike, if the Federal Government foot drags in attending to our demands,” he said.

    Josiah, however, noted that JOHESU had shown maturity, selflessness and patriotism in the face of extreme provocations and government’s nonchalant attitude on the welfare of its members.

  • FG directs NARD, JOHESU to withdraw fresh strike notices immediately

    The Federal Government has directed the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to withdraw their strike notices immediately.

    Sen. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

    Ngige was addressing newsmen at the end of a meeting with the Presidential Committee on Salaries, relevant Federal Government stakeholders and health sector professional associations and trade unions.

    He said that the Federal Government was recently issued notice of trade disputes by NARD and JOHESU.

    “I told them to withdraw because it is arm-twisting. It is not allowed in International Labour Organisation Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBAs) negotiation. So, we expect them to withdraw those notices they gave.

    “JOHESU gave 15-day ultimatum with effect from June 28. NARD gave 28-day ultimatum from when the day they had their National Executive Council.

    ”Those things are arm twisting and I told them that they must withdraw them because the issues they are bringing in here are tangential issues.

    ”They have nothing to do with this discussion on fixing a new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers,” he said.

    The minister said that the Federal Government would take the final decision on the new hazard allowance for health workers.

    He said that the government’s side allowed enough time for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and JOHESU to harmonise their different positions on the hazard allowance but they were not able to do so.

    He, however, said the matter would be returned to the National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission (NSWIC) and the Presidential Committee on Salaries to decide on the new hazard allowance for health professionals and workers.

    According to Ngige, the government is treading cautiously in order not to be seen as trying to stampede the health workers since the matter concerns money.

    “We will have separated them into JOHESU and NMA but that will give us much problem in terms of the implementation of whatever we agree on.

    “So, we are taking them jointly and it is yielding fruits now. The two big bodies have given their final positions. The government has taken their final positions back.

    ”We have also allowed them time to see if they can discuss among themselves like they did just before COVID-19 and we came out with COVID-19 allowance.

    “We have given them that time to see if they can meet and harmonise their positions but they are not able to do so.

    “We are adjourning this meeting sine die for the government side to look at those two positions to see whether we can do a middle of the road within our organ, the NSIWC, which by its mandate, is the government organ that fixes salaries, wages, allowances and remuneration,” he said.

    Ngige recalled that the Federal Government earlier offered the health workers 300 per cent increment on hazard allowances, which amounted to N37.5 billion.

    He said that they were trying to work within that realm of N37.5 billion, following inability of the unions to harmonise their different positions.

    “It is a teething problem because everybody has CBAs and we are now renegotiating the CBAs.

    ”There are CBAs in 2006, 2009, 2013 and even court pronouncements by the National Industrial Court, especially on work value and equal pay. These are things we will put in a basket and decide,” he added.

    Those present at the meeting were the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Enahire; Ministers of State, Clems Agba (Finance Budget and Planning) and Olorunimbe Mamora (Health).

    Others are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Abdulahi and his Labour and Employment counterpart, Peter Yerima-Tarfa.

  • JOHESU appeals to health workers to take COVID-19 vaccine

    JOHESU appeals to health workers to take COVID-19 vaccine

    The President, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Josiah Biobelemoye, has appealed to frontline health workers in the fight against COVID-19 to take the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    He urged his members nationwide to put aside all grievances and come out en masse to get the much needed protection against the virus.

    Biobelemoye who doubles as President, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), made the appeal in Abuja, while receiving his first jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

    He explained that members of the union who have always been discriminated against as health workers especially when it comes to welfare and other benefits, were suddenly recognised as health and front line workers when the issue of vaccination against the virus surfaced.

    While appealing to the health workers to consider their safety first before any existing acrimony or the various conspiracy theories making rounds in the country and African region, gave assurances that the vaccine was safe, adding that he felt no sign of side effects after taking the jab.

    He said: “I have just taken my jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and I feel good. I have come to take this to tell all health workers especially members of JOHESU that it is not harmful to anybody.

    “I know their area of grievances that from the outset of COVID, majority of my members were discriminated against that they are not health workers and today vaccines came and they said we are health workers.”

    “They are saying when it comes to butter and bread, naira and kobo we are discriminated against but the bottom line is even if we have to agitate we need to be alive so I am calling on everybody; I have sent advisories, I have been talking to our people and I think the anger is being doused.

    “We are health workers, we are science based and we have been interacting with our counterparts elsewhere in the world. I want to appeal to all Nigerians that if this is having any negativity, certainly, nearly one million Americans will not be lining out to take this.

     

    “Initially, the fear was the vaccine was made specifically to depopulate Africa and all the conspiracy theories but we are witnesses to the fact that the Europeans have used themselves as the guinea pug so what’s the reason for fear?

    “We should come out and take the first and second jab so we can be 100 per cent clear. We have millions of health workers across all levels; federal, state and primary level and they all need to be protected so they can go out and attend to the Nigerian population.”

    On if there is any sanction for members who refuse the vaccination, Biobelemoye disclosed that although no health worker was being compelled or mandated to take the vaccine, “we will appeal to the conscience of everybody as a health worker, you need to be safe, you need to be healthy to dispense health to those who needs it.”

    Officials of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), were on ground to supervise the seamless vaccination process of the leadership of health workers in the country.

    Director Advocacy and Communication of the NPHCDA, Eunice Damisah, who reiterated the safety of the vaccine, said as the day goes by, more Nigerians within the first priority areas, were embracing and coming out to get vaccinated

    “The leadership of the Nigerian health workers has. Appreciated the need for this vaccination so we are here physically to ensure that he gets the vaccine.

    “Nigerians have embraced it, though like every other society there are few skeptics but the more we vaccinate, the more people we have coming out to demand for the vaccine.”

     

  • Health workers suspend seven-day nationwide warning strike

    Health workers suspend seven-day nationwide warning strike

    Members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), have suspended their seven-day nationwide warning strike.

    Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, JOHESU National Chairman, made this known in a statement at the end of its expanded National Executive Council meeting on Sunday in Abuja.

    Biobelemoye directed all members of the union to resume work by Sept. 21 and also await further directives.

    Members of JOHESU and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) embarked on a seven-day warning strike to press on its demands from the Federal Government.

    The union demands included disparity in the payment of hazard and inducement allowances to workers in the frontline containing the spread of COVID-19 among others.

    Biobelemoye said:“ I bring fraternal greetings to you from the entire members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA).

    “This is to bring to your notice that the 7-day nationwide warning strike embarked upon by the members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) would come to an end midnight of today, Sept. 20.

    “By this notice, all health workers under the five Unions that make up Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) shall return to work on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020 across all Federal Health Institutions in the country.

    “However, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health has continued to exhibit high level of bias/discrimination by refusing to address the demands of our members as presented by JOHESU within the seven days of the warning strike as was done to other bodies in the health sector.

    “The next line of action would be decided in due course by the expanded National Executive Council of JOHESU.”

    He also alleged that rather than call JOHESU for dialogue to resolve the trade dispute, the Federal Government resorted to intimidation and blackmail of the union leaders using all forms of instruments and faceless organisations.

    He further said that JOHESU would continue to use all legitimate means to defend the rights and demands for the welfare of its members in the health sector.

    “Nigerians should bear us witness that JOHESU has shown high patriotism by demanding that public health system in Nigeria is sustained and adequately financed for effective, efficient and affordable healthcare service delivery.

    “In view of the above and in line with the resolution of the expanded NEC meeting held physically and virtually today, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, I hereby declare that the seven days warning strike is suspended.

    “All our members are directed to resume work by Monday, Sept. 21, 2020 while awaiting further directives,” he said.

  • JOHESU to begin nationwide strike midnight

    JOHESU to begin nationwide strike midnight

    Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) are to begin a nationwide strike from midnight on Sunday.

    The strike is over Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands.

    The JOHESU President, Mr Josiah Biobelemoye, made this known in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

    The workers had issued a notice to the government, saying that it would embark on a nationwide strike, if their demands were not met.

    JOHESU’s demands include addressing of structural and infrastructural decay in the nation’s health sector and review of the implementation of COVID-19 special inducement and hazard allowance.

    Ngige had on Friday called for a conciliatory meeting between the Federal Government and JOHESU.

    The government directed that in view of the understanding reached at the meeting, JOHESU should consult with its members and report back to the government on Sept. 12.

    Biobelemoye said on Sunday that the outcome of the meeting between the joint unions and the government was reported back to the unions’ expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday.

    He said that it was unanimously agreed that nothing concrete was achieved at the meeting with the government, and the strike notice was, therefore, germane.

    “Therefore, the 15-day ultimatum still subsists, and with effect from midnight of Sept. 13, 2020, our members shall withdraw their services due to the government’s inability to meet their demands.

    “Kindly accept the assurances of our high esteem,” he said.

    The health workers had in a letter dated Aug. 30 and addressed to the Federal Ministry of Health, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet their demands.

  • JOHESU holds emergency meeting, may resume nationwide strike

    Indications emerged on Thursday that the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) may resume its suspended strike.

    The union is holding a crucial meeting and the outcome will decide it will embark on strike.

    The union had threatened to resume the industrial action it suspended last May and the meeting was called after the two weeks’ ultimatum it gave the government to resolve “issues in dispute” elapsed today.

    JOHESU is a body of all health workers, except doctors. Since 2014, they have been asking the government to increase their pay and improve their members working conditions, among other demands. This has resulted in pockets of strike actions, over the period.

    Last year, Nigeria’s health sector suffered one of its biggest blow when JOHESU members downed tools on April 17 over similar demands.

    The strike, which lasted six weeks, caused many deaths and left millions without care. Patients passed through untold pain and their relatives grumbled as both federal, state and local government health institutions were brought to their knees.

    The strike was however suspended on May 31.

    According to the Vice President of the union, Ogbonna Chimela, the government is yet to call them for a continuation of negotiations, despite the two weeks strike notice given.

    “We gave 15 days’ ultimatum to the government to call us so we can start negotiations and be on the same page. They have not invited us.

    “The law provides that during the period of an ultimatum, it’s the responsibility of the government to invite the aggrieved party to a meeting but they (government) have acted as if the ultimatum was not given them.

    “We heard nothing from the federal ministry of health, the parent body,” Chimela said.

    Meanwhile, Chimela insisted that the health workers remain undeterred by the no work no pay rule.

    “The government in their usual spirit has kept quiet and maybe they are still relying on their old tactics of no work no pay. That will never deter us from asking them to do the needful.”

    The federal government invoked the ‘no work no pay rule’ rule on health workers during their suspended six weeks’ strike last year.

    Upon resumption, the government did not pay them for the period they were on strike (two months).

    Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act states that where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other remuneration for the period of the strike, and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly.

    “That particular rule was erroneously implemented on us because we followed all the due process before the strike action”, the JOHESU official noted.

    “Two months salaries were not paid then but we are not deterred. We are willing to go on strike again in as much as it is a call for justice and fair play.

    “We are ready to make more sacrifices for what is due us. Besides, that (two months salary) has not gone down the drain. It is one of the things we are asking for in the ultimatum, it is part of our demand.”

     

  • BREAKING: JOHESU suspends strike, members to resume on Friday

    The Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, on Thursday called off its 43-day-old strike, directing its members to resume work on Friday.

    The body also lambasted the Federal Government for failing to meet its demands.

    The directive was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of JOHESU and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations in Abuja.

    The communiqué read in part, “The various gains from the meetings with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, were presented to the NEC of JOHESU.

    “After exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six-week old strike be suspended this day Thursday, May 31, 2018 because of the sympathy the unions have for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations to continue on Monday, June 4, 2018.”

    The union maintained that the strike was not political but was based on the principle of fairness and justice.

    It, however, had harsh words for the Federal Government for failing to honour its promise of increasing the salaries of health workers.