Well being staff demand instant cost of 7-month pay arrears to avert strike 

This determination was reached on the finish of the Nationwide Govt Council (NEC) assembly of NUAHP and the Joint Well being Sector Unions (JOHESU), held on Tuesday in Jos.

A communiqué issued on the finish of the assembly was made obtainable to newsmen in Abuja. It was collectively signed by Mr. Kamal Ibrahim, Nationwide President, and Mr. Martin Egbanubi, Basic Secretary of the physique.

The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that members below the Nigeria Union of Allied Well being Professionals (NUAHP) embody pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, imaging scientists, and dental technologists.

Others are occupational therapists, well being data administration practitioners, dental therapists, dieticians, and different associated well being professionals.

Delayed wage overview raises issues 

The union leaders stated NEC expressed dissatisfaction over the delay within the implementation of the 25% and 35% Assessment of Consolidated Well being Wage Construction (CONHESS).

“The NEC-in-session was notably apprehensive concerning the seven months’ arrears (June 2023 to December 2023) of the 25 per cent and 35% CONHESS regardless of being captured within the 2024 finances and now within the 2025 finances. 

“NEC describe the delay within the cost as unacceptable and considers it a violation of merchandise 5 of the FG-JOHESU Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on twenty ninth October 2024 and the decision reached on twentieth December 2024, respectively. 

“NEC subsequently calls for the cost of those arrears with out additional delay to avert industrial motion,” they stated. 

FG but to fulfil settlement—Union 

They contended that regardless of the signing of MoU between the Federal Authorities and JOHESU on Oct. 29, 2024, after the suspension of the union nationwide strike, the federal government had but to fulfil its obligation contained within the settlement.

They urged the federal government to contemplate the implications of resuming the suspended strike motion within the well being sector and the nation generally if it did not urgently deal with the matter.

“NEC calls on President Bola Tinubu to honour his promise to JOHESU by directing related Ministries, Departments and Companies (MDAs) and different organs of the federal authorities to expeditiously cope with this matter for sustainable industrial concord and in public curiosity,” they stated. 

The unions additionally urged the federal government, in any respect ranges, to implement tax discount on scientific allowances like name responsibility, shift responsibility, and educating to cushion the consequences of the excessive price of dwelling on the livelihood of well being staff.

Retention allowance demanded

They appealed for the cost of retention allowance as an incentive to encourage healthcare professionals who selected to remain again within the nation.

“The NEC-in-session noticed with nice concern the excessive electrical energy tariff to residents and bands categorization with out proportionate electrical energy provide within the nation. 

“It known as on the federal government to grant a subsidy on electrical energy tariffs to Nigerians in low-income residential areas, hospitals and academic establishments throughout the nation. 

“The NEC additionally urged the federal government to contemplate decentralization of energy technology, transmission and distribution amongst sub-nationalals,” they stated 

The union leaders stated NEC additionally known as on the federal government to step up actions via political will to make sure the nation’s refineries are producing at optimum capability.

They urged the federal government to make petroleum merchandise obtainable at reasonably priced costs.