The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals, on Tuesday, condemned the Nigeria senate over alleged harrassment and intimidation of health workers and professionals at a public hearing which held on Monday, February 1.
National Chairman of JOHESU, Biobelemioye Josiah, at a press briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday described the turnout of event at the hearing as unfortunate, undemocratic, discriminatory and unparliamentary.
Josiah said the purpose of the public hearing was defeated because other critical stakeholders who submitted memoranda ahead of time were not allowed to make presentations.
JOHESU National Chairman specifically accused Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, who is the sponsor of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCAN), Ibrahim Oloriegbe, of bias against other health professionals during the public hearing.
He said, “JOHESU condemns in its entirety the harassment and intimidation of health workers and professionals during the above public hearing by Senator Ibrahim Y. Oloriegbe; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health.
“The action is not only unfortunate but undemocratic, discriminatory, and unparliamentary. It is a violation of our 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.
“JOHESU demands an unreserved apology on this unfortunate incident from Senator Oloriegbe or face the wrath of JOHESU members through all possible legitimate means.”
He warned that industrial peace can no longer be guaranteed in the health sector nationwide if the Senate fails to tender an unreserved apology to the health workers and consider all its demands.
The Senate Committee on Health, is presently considering not less than five health bills which include: Advanced Health Care Development Fund (Establishment) Bill 2020 and Federal Tertiary Teaching Hospital Development Tax Fund (Establishment) Bill 2020.
Others are: Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2020; Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State (Establishment) Bill 2020 and National Maternal and Pre-natal Deaths Surveillance (Establishment) Bill 2020.
