President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday appealed to workers in the health sector to bear with the administration in their demands as it braces up for the challenges posed by coronavirus to the economy. 

The President, who made the appeal when workers in the health sector, under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly Healthcare Professionals Associations (AHPA) paid him a courtesy call at the State House, Abuja, assured that government was looking into their issues with a view to resolving them.

President Buhari also called on the visitors to appeal to the patriotic sentiments of their members in these trying times and continue to work for further development of the country.

The Nigerian leader used the opportunity to stress that his administration’s successful drive for food sufficiency in the last four years will definitely come in handy now with the drop in government revenue.

JOHESU, an amalgam of five registered trade unions and AHPA, under the leadership of

President of the union, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, intimate the President with some of the contentious issues in the sector, thanking him for some of the positive developments, including the prompt release of funds for tackling Coronavirus; and for assenting to the National Health Act which provides for a one percent consolidated fund for the health sector.

Joy Josiah also showed gratitude for the president’s rejection of the advice of stakeholders who clamored for the privatization of the health sector which would have deprived the masses access to affordable healthcare.

JOHESU leadership also requested the President’s intervention in the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS); withheld April and May 2018 salaries of members; gazetting of the scheme of service for nurses; and restoration of teaching allowances among others.

Also in attendance were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; the Minister and the Minister of State in the  Health ministry, Dr.Osagie Ehanire and Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora respectively; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.