Again, Health Workers Set to Embark on National Strike

• Give FG 30-day ultimatum
Martins Ifijeh
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has given the federal government 30 days ultimatum to accent to its long standing demands, failure to which it will embark on an indefinite national strike in all health institutions in the country.

Stating this during a protest rally in Lagos yesterday to register their grievances, the National President of the union, Mr. Ogbonna Obinna said the federal government has so far refused to implement the collectively-bargained agreements it had with NUAHP and the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) several years ago.

According to him, “despite the National Industrial Court’s judgement that the federal government should adhere to skipping of CONHESS 10 and pay outstanding arrears, till date nothing has been done. The government has also refused to adjust the CONHESS salary structure,” adding that, that of medical doctors (CONMESS) has been reviewed since January 3, 2014 with all its arrears paid.

He said as part of Federal Ministry of Health’s effort to also whittle down health workers, who are not medical doctors, it introduced a fake promotion exercise where its members were promoted to the same position they were before the exercise.

He said despite the agreement of the unions with the FG on appointment of consultants and special allowances since 2009, the government has refused to implement this.

The Deputy President, North, NUAHP, Isaac Utenoh added that other grievances of the union include, the half hazard implementation of Enhanced Entry Point (EEP) for medical laboratory scientist and radiographers, government’s second class treatment for health workers as against medical practitioners; government’s continuous appointment of University staff to head departments and units of the hospital.