The Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals has lamented the delay in implementing the Consolidated Health Salary Structure adjustment for members of the union and other healthcare workers the salary structure.
NUAHP expressed dismay, stating that since 2014, when the agitation started after the Federal Government violated the collective bargaining agreement establishing the two salary structures in the health sector by adjusting the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for medical practitioners without replicating the same to the CONHESS for other health workers.
This was disclosed in a communique issued on Tuesday by the union at the end of its National Executive Council meeting held in Jos, Plateau State.
The communique was signed by the union’s President. Kamal Ibrahim and the General Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, respetively noted that despite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the FG and the Joint Health Sector Unions on October 29th, 2024, after a conciliation meeting that led to the suspension of JOHESU’s nationwide strike; the government is yet to fulfill its obligation contained in the MoU.
“NEC-in-Session warns about the implications of resuming the suspended strike action on the health sector and the nation in general if the Federal Government fails to urgently address this matter, which is a dispute of right.
“NEC, therefore, calls on President Bola Tinubu to honour his promise to JOHESU National Leadership at a meeting held in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on June 5th, 2023, by directing relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies, and other organs of the Federal Government, especially the Presidential Committee on Salaries to expeditiously deal with this matter for sustainable industrial harmony and in the public interest,” it stated.
The union was also worried about the seven months’ arrears (June to December 2023) of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent review of CONHESS, despite being captured in the 2024 budget and the 2025 budget.
NEC described as unacceptable the delay in payment, which NEC considered a violation of item five of the FG-JOHESU MoU on October 29th, 2024, and resolution reached on 20th December 20th, 2024 respectively.
“NEC therefore demands the payment of these arrears without further delay to avert industrial action,” it added.
The union lamented the current high cost of living and its implications on members’ welfare and the push factor of migration.
It urged the government to come up with incentives like tax reduction and retention allowance to motivate healthcare workers, alleviate economic hardship, and provide short-term measures that will reduce the migration of healthcare professionals to other countries.
“NEC-in-Session, therefore, urged the government at all levels to give tax reduction on clinical allowances like call duty, shift duty, teaching, etc., to cushion the effect of the high cost of living on the livelihood of health workers. NEC also appeals for the payment of retention allowance as an incentive to motivate healthcare professionals who choose to stay back in the country,” it said.
