Posted on: Fri 19-05-2023

The Honourable Minister of Health 

Federal Ministry of Health 

Federal Secretariat Complex

Abuja.

Sir, 

Notice of 15 Days Strike Ultimatum 

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association (AHPA) finds it imperative to draw your attention to the various inconsistencies displayed by the FG in the on-going negotiations with regards to the Adjustments of CONHESS for health workers on the platform of JOHESU / AHPA. 

In particular, we note with dismay, the tendencies of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to shift from agreed terms and rules of our engagement which had emphasized non-discrimination on whatever basis in the determination of the Wages and benefit packages of health workers in Nigeria. 

Recent communication from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) which attempted to shortage the laudable report of the Technical Committee on the Adjustment of CONHESS as was done for CONMESS, by claiming its implementat would distort existing CONMESS relativity with CONHESS. For the records, the membership of the Technical Committee had representations from Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FML&E), IPPIS, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Budget Office, JOHESU/AHPA, FMoH & National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC). The NSIWC Executive Chairman was Health of the Technical Committee because of the perceived expertise in matters related to Income, Wages, Salaries and Compensation. 

It is fundamental to document that the preponderance of the representatives of the key MDAs on the Committee insisted that relativity has been entrenched in the entry points of all cadres in the entire public service including the Health Sector The militating bane in the Health Sector remains the inability of the Physician dominated FMoH to distinguish the status of their Professional body. NMA from o Government pedestal which the FMoH represents 

The major demands that had been ignored so long to provoke this ultimatum include: 

1. Adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as agreed in terms of settlement (TOS) of 30th September. 2017 (Lingered since Jan 2. 2014).
2. Payment of peculiar allowance to health workers under the aegis of JOHESU/AHPA
3. Immediate and unconditional implementation of the Consultant Cadre circular of Pharmacist in all FHIs.
4. Payment of all withheld Salaries of our members in FMC Owerri, JUTH, LUTH and their withheld April and May 2018 Salaries.
5. Speedy Adjustment of Retirement Age from 60 - 65 years
6. Exclusion of some health workers in the payment of new hazard allowance and payment of COVID 19 Allowance balance.

The planned 25% review on CONMESS will only widen the existing relativity with CONMESS to our disadvantage while also distorting albeit significantly the supposed edge over general salary scales in Public Service We therefore demand o negotiation of our Peculiar Allowance 

The Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AkPA) is now compelled to issue a 15•day ultimatum to press for the reflected age long demands as well as other contemporary ones as enumerated above 

In the light of the issues raised in the foregoing, JOHESU/AHPA is forced to issue this 15-day strike ultimatum to the Federal Government effective from le May. 2023 which makes it expire Midnight of Wednesday. May 24, 2023. If the Federal Government does not stick to tenets of due 'process spelt in our rules of engagement since the commencement of negotiations on the Adjustment of CONHE55 as was done for CONMESS and the other lingering demands as highlighted above within the 15 day window, it would be clear that it is the Federal Government that should be held responsible for the fall-outs of a possible strike.

JOHESU / AHPA wishes the FG team maximum wisdom as it tackles matters arising from these crucial development. 

Thank you. 

Comrade (Chief) Mathew O. Ajorutu 

Ag. National Secretary 

For: National Chairman 

CC:

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation 

The Presidency 

Abuja 

The Chief of Staff to the President 

The President 

Aso Rock Villa 

Abuja 

The Director General 

Department of State Services 

Abuja 

His Excellency 

The Senate President 

National Assembly Complex 

Abuja 

The Rt. Hon. Speaker 

House of Representatives 

National Assembly Complex 

Abuja 

Honourable Minister of Labour & Employment 

Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment 

Federal Secretariat Complex 

Abuja 

The Executive Chairman 

National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission 

Federal Secretariat Complex 

Abuja

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