Posted on: Tue 29-06-2021

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 Associations (AHPA) finds it imperative to draw your attention to the various inconsistencies displayed by the FG in the On-going negotiations on hazard allowances for health workers on the platform f JOHESU/AHPA and NMA. 

In particular, we note with dismay, the tendencies of the FG team to shift from agreed terms and rules of our engagement which had emphasized non-discrimination on whatever the basis of such stratification and Government’s resolve not to adopt percentages in whatever guise to determine the Hazard Allowances for all health workers. 

Flowing from the highlighted rules of engagement above, the FG had adopted a seemingly principled N12,500 and N25,000 for health workers in the equivalent of CONHESS 01-05, 06 – 15 respectively and CONMESS 01-07

These rates were marginally increased to N16,000 and N32,000 for all health workers based on the salary scales indicated, that is CONHESS 01-05, 06-15 and CONMESS 01-07 respectively after rounds of negotiations at three meetings spanning over 20 hours in summation.

Given the above, we strongly posit that any deviation from Federal Government’s intended absolute figures formula to percentage formula being canvassed by NMA must be applied universally for all health workers. 

Respect of hazard allowances enjoyed  on the CONHESS and CONMESS scale completely distorts the equation already adopted in 2019 which the 2014 Collective Bargaining Committee report has grounded in far reaching and fundamental decisions. 

It is also important that any adopted figure which the Federal Government comes up with that places a premium on classification on Clinical and Non-Clinical personnel amounts to discrimination which is prohibited by International Labour Organization Treaties which the Federal Government is a signatory to apart from the Provision in Section 42(1)A and B of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution which also prohibits discrimination to all citizens of Nigeria. 

Other lingering issues 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.
2. Payment of all withheld salaries of our members in FMC Owerri, JUTH, LUTH and withheld April and May 2018 Salaries. 
3. Payment of 40/30 percent of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance 
4. Implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) consent judgement and other Court Judgements
5. Speedy Adjustment of Retirement Age from 60 to 65 years. 

In the light of the issues raised in the foregoing, JOHESU/AHPA is forced to send a 15 day strike ultimatum to the Federal Government effective Monday, June 28, 2021 if the Federal Government does not stick to tenets of due process spelt in our rules of engagement since the commencement of negotiations on Hazard Allowance for workers on the CONHESS and CONMESS structure, and putting up machinery in place to immediately address the lingering demands a highlighted above, above within the 15 days window. 

We therefore strongly urge the FG team to be decisive at the planned meeting of Tuesday July 6, 2021 to resolve all issues once and for all.

JOHESU/AHPA wishes the FG team maximum wisdom as it tackles matters arising from the on-going negotiations.

Thank you.

Signed:

Comrade Bipbelemoye J. Josiah 

Chairman, JOHESU

Cc: 

His Excellency

The Senate President 

National Assembly Complex 

Abuja

The Rt. Hon. Speaker

House of Representatives

National Assembly Complex

Abuja

The Director General 

Department of State Security 

Abuja

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