The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations have issued a 15-day strike ultimatum to the Nigerian federal government over alleged inconsistencies in the ongoing negotiations to adjust the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers.
In a letter addressed to the Federal Ministry of Health and signed by National Secretary Matthew Ajorotu, the unions accused the ministry of shifting from agreed terms and rules of engagement related to non-discrimination in the determination of the wages and benefit packages of health workers in Nigeria.
The unions highlighted their demands, calling on the federal government to consolidate on Health Salary Structure as agreed in the September 2017 settlement, which has been lingering since 2014.
They also urged the government to pay peculiar allowances to health workers under JOHESU/AHP and implement the Consultant Cadre circular of pharmacists in all federal health institutions immediately and unconditionally.
Other demands include the payment of all withheld salaries of their members in Federal Medical Center in Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital, and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, speedy adjustment of retirement age from 60 – 65 years, exclusion of some health workers in the payment of new hazard allowance, and payment of COVID-19 allowance balance.
The unions also demanded a negotiation of the peculiar allowance and cautioned that the planned 25% review on CONHESS would only widen the existing relativity with CONMESS to their disadvantage.
The letter added that if the federal government does not adhere to the tenets of due process spelt in their rules of engagement within the 15-day window, it would be held responsible for the fall-outs of a possible strike.