The recent indecency and unprofessional act of the Joint Health Workers’ Union (JOHESU) , Enugu State Chapter ought to be condemned by every rational compos mentis. As learnt from a recently trending article on the social media titled; ” Looming Crisis in Enugu State Health Sector” where a group of health workers threatened among other things that they would embark on an indefinite strike action if the state government fails to meet up with their demand for the full payment (100%) of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS.)
Perusing analytically through the write-up, one would not find it difficult to perceive the underlying political undertone of their suddenly desperate plan to undermine not just the integrity but the authority of the state government. This is because we recall that recently, the State High Court issued a subsisting court injunction restraining the State Health Workers from embarking on any form of industrial action especially now that the whole globe is yet to recover from the Covid 19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, to the greatest consternation of all, the same health workers who are ordinarily expected to respect their professional etiquettes by conducting themselves as law-abiding citizens decided to throw caution to the wind by violating the court order and to add more salt to injury, even decided to go around different health facilities in the state molesting and harassing their members who are unwilling to join the bandwagon, coercing them to do their bids or face further sanctions from the union.
Consequently, it is now obvious even to the blind, deaf and dumb that the leadership of JOHESU, Enugu State Chapter has not only been hijacked and compromised but politicised by some ill-motivated politicians who are bent on tarnishing the image of the hardworking state government. This is because the health workers in a twinkle of an eye has forgotten that they were the first in the country to receive Covid 19 palliatives. They have suddenly forgotten that every state government is merely struggling to survive the excruciating effects of Covid 19 pandemic. The health workers do not even wish to take into consideration that it was because of the paucity of funds that compelled the Ondo State Government to sack all their Resident Doctors recently. They don’t even want to appreciate the fact that it has taken more than yes for Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to sustain the state’s economic viability in spite of the prevailing challenges. Rather, the major inspiration and motivation for the health workers stems from their relentless pursuit to satisfy their paymasters to the detriment of all but they should not forget in haste that posterity is taking account of all our actions and reactions.
Furthermore, it is pertinent to remind the health workers that while a lot of state governments have been slashing the salaries of their health workers and even political appointees, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has continued to ensure that all his workers receive timely payments and will definitely fulfill the demands of JOHESU at the right time. Therefore, while it is true that the CONHESS remains the rightful entitlement of the health workers, they should be reminded that their planned industrial action is not only ill-timed but inhuman , so, they are advised that they should resist the temptation of being used to generate maximum health crisis in the state because it would certainly earn them not just the wrath of man but that of God.
ENUGU STATE IS IN THE HANDS OF GOD
WRITTEN BY
HON.MRS. BIBIAN ANEKWE
SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT (SSA) ON MOBILIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT.
ENUGU DI N’AKA CHUKWU MOVEMENT (DG.)
