Health practitioners’ associations threaten strike; give FG 15 days’ ultimatum

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly ofhealthcareprofessional Associations (AHPA) have threatened to embark on a strike action if the Federal Government fails to attend to their demands.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Health, the associations gave notice of 15 days’ ultimatum to the government to review the defective implementation of Covid-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance, pay all withheld salaries of their members, including the withheld April and May 2018 salaries as well as to adjust Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since 2014.

They also called for the implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (ADR) Consent judgment and other court judgments.

The letter reads: “You will recall that up till the time of writing this letter, the federal government has not deemed it fit to honour the terms of settlement entered into with JOHESU on 30th September, 2017, especially the upward review of CONHESS salary structure as agreed, to be completed within five weeks from the date of agreement ( 30/ 09/ 2017) amongst other requests. This is both distasteful and condemnable because it is three whooping years after the conclusion of this agreement.

“You will also recall sir, that at the meeting of JOHESU and your good self with the Minister of State for Health, Permanent Secretary and other top functionaries of your Ministry, held on Wednesday, 1st July, 2020. Your Ministry agreed that a mistake was made by government in the implementation of COVID-19 special inducement and hazard allowance and consequently promised that the shortfall in the payment of 50 percent basic of consolidated to all those health workers was a mistake on the part of government and that the shortfall shall be paid accordingly.