The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has demanded an unreserved apology from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe over the bad treatment of its members during the Public Hearing on Five Health Bills held on 1st February, 2021.
JOHESU condemns in its entirety the harassment and intimidation of health workers and professionals during the said public hearing by Senator Oloriegbe.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, the President of the Union, Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah who expressed displeasure over the bad treatment of health workers at the said occasion, went further to state that the action is not only unfortunate but undemocratic, discriminatory, and unparlimentary.
He went further to describe the action as a violation of their members’ rights to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in Chapter IV of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Biomelemoye further stated that apart from apology on the unfortunate incidence, the union is also demanding that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria repeal and re-enactment bill, 2020 under consideration be stepped down until all litigations on the existing Act are decided and resolved.
He warned that if the burning issues and other demands of health workers are not resolved as soon as possible, the union would not guarantee industrial peace in the health sector nationwide.
” That the purpose of the public hearing was defeated because other critical stakeholders who submitted memoranda ahead of time were not allowed to make presentations even though sufficient time was given to medical practitioners and their affiliated bodies. Furthermore, he totally disregarded the arranged list of presenters during the public hearing and hand-picked presenters instead, while barring his perceived antagonists.
“That Senator Dr Oloriegbe as a sponsor of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCAN bill displayed high level of bias against other health professionals during the public hearing.
