The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, to address their demands or risk another nationwide strike action on October 25.
This decision follows an emergency meeting held on October 2, where health sector leaders expressed frustration over unresolved issues affecting their members.
According to a communique issued by the unions, the meeting, attended by representatives from various healthcare unions, assessed the government’s lack of progress on key demands, notably the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment, which has been a point of contention since 2014.
They noted that despite previous commitments from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address these grievances, a major part of their demands is yet to be met.
In addition to the CONHESS adjustment, the unions are demanding immediate payment of salary arrears, restoration of funding to regulatory agencies, and the reconstitution of governing bodies for federal health institutions, among others.
The unions also seek tax waivers for healthcare workers and the payment of COVID-19 hazard allowances.
During the meeting, members resolved to mobilize across health facilities nationwide and prepare for potential industrial action if their demands are not met within the specified timeframe.
The document signed by its National Chairman, Kabir Minjibir, and Martin Egbanubi National Secretary reads in part:
“NEC-in-Session critically appraised reports brought before it by the JOHESU National Leadership on various engagements with the Federal Government and governments at sub-national levels since the suspension ofJOHESU nationwide strike action on June 5, 2023 consequent upon the intervention of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who promised to urgently resolve all issues.
“NEC was particularly worried that one of the major demands; the implementation of the Technical Committee report on the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Strücture (CONHESS) which has been a subject of dispute since 2014 has not been addressed as promised by Mr. President.
“NEC-in-Session a f t e r exhaustive hours of deliberations on issues bothering members of JOHESU resolved to demand as follows:
“Immediate implementation of CONHESS Adjustment. Immediate payment of 25 %CONHESS Review arrears (June – December, 2023
“Immediate payment of nine (9) months’ (January – September, 2024) salary to staff of Regulatory Agencies and immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council.
“Immediate reconstitution of Boards/Governing Councils of Federal Health Institution.
“Commencement of the process to upwardly review retirement age of health workers through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMcH&SW) to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
“Tax waiver on Healthcare workers allowances. Immediate payment of COVID 19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers.
The union further noted that, “NEC-in-Session directed all branches of JOHESU affiliate Unions to call congresses across health facilities in the country for immediate mobilization of members towards impending industrial action.
“Immediate suspension of planned establishment and activities of NationalHealth Facility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA) as being promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“Finally, NEC-in-Session unanimously adopted a resolution to issue fifteen (15) days’ notice to the Federal Government for the resumption of the suspended strike action as required by Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act CapT8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
