JUST IN: Lagos Health Workers Begin Strike—-TCN reports that the unions include the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU.

Oloruntoba Odumosu, Secretary of NANNM, in an interview with NAN on Wednesday, insisted that the strike would hold following the expiration of an ultimatum issued by the unions.

Odumosu disclosed that a meeting of the union leaders with officials of the state government on Dec. 9 also ended in an impasse.

“The government officials couldn’t give us a clear timeline for the implementation of our demands and there’s no governor’s approval for the payment.

“We reported the feedback to the Congress, which was ongoing at our secretariat, and it unanimously voted ‘No’, insisting on proceeding with the strike,” he said.

He complained that the matter had lingered for long, in spite of numerous attempts by the unions to resolve it amicably.

“However, it has become clear that the government does not accord the issue the seriousness it deserves.

“Engagement on December 2 with the Ministry of Establishments and Training further reinforced our concerns as the meeting failed to provide clarity on the computation method for the adjustment.

“This is particularly concerning given that Lagos state does not operate the full CONHESS structure, nor did it yield a definite timeline for payment.

“This is especially disheartening as adjustments have already been implemented for doctors since October 2024.

“This approach, which prioritises some segments of the health workforce while neglecting others, is divisive and undermines the collective morale of health professionals in the state,” he said.

Odumosu regretted that the government appeared ‘indifferent’ to addressing their legitimate demands in spite of the critical roles played by members of the unions in ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare to Lagos residents.

“The handling of this matter has left us with no other choice but to resort to this warning strike, spanning from December 11 to December 13.

“It is aimed at pressing home our demands for the full implementation of the CONHESS adjustment for all eligible health workers in Lagos state,” he said.

Similarly, Kamaldeen Kabiawu, State Secretary, NUAHP, decried the delayed implementation of the 25 per cent CONHESS adjustment, especially after the government approved a 35 per cent CONMESS adjustment for doctors in October 2024.

NAN reports that the strike will affect all state-owned health facilities – Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), general hospitals, and primary health centres (PHCs).

JUST IN: Court Grants Dele Farotimi N50m bail Over Alleged Defamation On Afe Babalola—-Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court.

The court granted Farotimi bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety of the same amount.

The court ruled that the surety must possess a landed property and adjourned the matter to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.

Farotimi was taken to court by Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, after being arrested by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command.

Babalola, 95, accused Farotimi of defaming him in a book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

The arrest sparked outrage across the country, prompting civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association to call for the activist’s release.