TheCable

The federal government has directed all heads of medical institutions to provide adequate security for the working members of staff to prevent “harassment” by members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

Isaac Adewole, the minister for health, gave the directive on Tuesday.

Ugochukwu Chinaka, president of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), had earlier accused JOHESU of harassing and molesting members of NARD and other medical officers at their respective duty posts.

Adewole cautioned the members of the striking union not to harass or molest medical officers at their duty posts.

”The federal government would not accept nor condone any act of irresponsibility and disobedience to constituted authorities. All locked health facilities should be opened immediately to enable the facilities provide required services while negotiation continues,” Adewole said.

He said any person found disturbing the peace in any health facility should be made to face the law.

Biobebelemoye Josiah,the national chairman of JOHESU, had  accused doctors and the ministry of health of sabotage and insincerity in handling the demands of JOHESU.

He said Nigerian doctors were planning to frustrate ongoing talks to end the four-week-old strike.

”This goes a long way to show that there was dishonesty, insincerity from the beginning on the part of the ministry of health because most probably the minister is a doctor; minister of state (health) is also a doctor and minister of labour who is supposed to be the chief negotiator, is also a medical doctor,” Josiah said.