Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), on Wednesday protested against the hospital management’s decision to stop their salaries over two-month old strike.

Led by their chairman and secretary, Comrade Mustapha Kabiru and Pharm Samfi Pius Kesuwo respectively, the protesters, all dressed in black attire, marched along several Jos streets with various hand-written placards.

The workers who besieged entrance of the Plateau State House of Assembly complex in Jos, the state capital lamented that they were not paid their April salaries because the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Edmond Banwat invoked a “No Work, No Pay” policy.

While speaking with the Speaker of the state House of Assembly at the assembly complex, Hon. Peter Azi, the union leaders sought the lawmakers’ intervention adding that it does not speak well of JUTH to be referring patients to private clinics as a result of absence of drugs, reagents and other hospital consumables.

Responding, Hon. Azi said the House will mandate its standing committee on Health to convene a meeting with representatives of the union to see how the legislature can best intervene especially over the welfare of patients in the hospital.

The protesting workers include members of the following unions at the JUTH: Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP); and Medical and Health Workers’ Union (MHWUN).

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Again, JUTH workers protest over salary stoppage