Health workers demand adjustment of salary structure

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals has called on the Federal Government to implement the high-level body technical committee’s report on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure to avert a resumption of the recently suspended industrial action by Joint Health Sector Unions.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the association’s eighth quadrennial national delegates’ conference held in Abuja themed “Alarming Brain Drain in Nigeria’s Health Sector: Need for Emergency Rescue.”

NUAHP said any adjustment to Consolidated Medical Salary Structure must always be carried out on CONHESS in line with the collective bargaining agreement that established the two salary structures in the health sector in 2009.

The communique signed by the President of NUAHP, Kamal Ibrahim, and the General Secretary, Martin Egbanubi said to reduce the brain drain in the health sector, the government must provide adequate funding for the sector, improve the working conditions and welfare of healthcare workers, and create a decent work environment, among others.

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The association also demands that the “implementation of circulars on pharmacist consultant cadre should commence immediately without further delay, unhindered career progression of our members and other health workers, stoppage of all forms of discriminatory practices against health professionals in the union and other health workers, and appointment of Minister(s) of Health should no longer be the exclusive right of physicians.”

It said the appointment of Chief Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer should no longer be restricted to medical doctors only but thrown open to enable other health professionals to compete.

It said also board representation for other healthcare professionals should be increased from one to eight out of the 14 members of the board since other health workers make up 95 per cent of the total healthcare workforce.

“The position of Chairman Medical Advisory Committee should no longer be appointed from the University but among substantive Directors/Deputy Directors in teaching hospitals, by the public service rule.

“The 36 State governments and FCT must implement the new hazard allowance for all health workers in their respective State Health Institutions. All outstanding salaries owed health workers in Abia, Imo and Rivers State must be paid to avert the declaration of trade disputes in those states and there must be an immediate recruitment of health professionals to bridge the human resource gaps created by brain drain,” it added.