Posted on: Wed 30-03-2022

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF NIGERIAN UNION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (NUAHP), HELD AT QUEEN ELIZABETH CHAPEL HALL, FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE

Preamble

The first Quarter 2022 National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) took place at Queen Elizabeth Chapel Hall, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State. The meeting had a robust opening ceremony which was declared openned by the Chief Host, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia State, ably represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof A. C. B. Agbazuere. Prominent among personalities that graced the occasion were; the First Lady of the state, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu Ph.D, represented by her Principal Secretary Deaconess Ngwama, the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Prof. Azubike Onyebuchi, the representative of the Chief Executive of the State Hospitals’ Management Board, Dr. Aharuka, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Ubani Ukoma and other members of the State Executive Council. 

The opening ceremony witnessed two major event- Guest
Lecture by Prof. Azubike Onyebuchi and Dr. Ubani Ukoma, on the Theme and Sub Theme; Health Care Financing in a Constrained Economy and Health Insurance: A Panacea to Universal Health Coverage respectively and an Award of Excellence on Healthcare Humanitarian Support to the first Lady Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu for her efforts towards elimination of Sickle Cell Disease in Abia State. 

The President Comrade (Dr.) Obinna Ogbonna in his Opening Remarks lauded the tenacity and commitment of the members of the Union towards strengthening healthcare service delivery in the country in spite of the economic challenges and other varied welfare issues affecting health workers 

at all levels of the public health sector. He urged members not to relent in effectively discharging their responsibilities adding that the leadership of the Union will continue to step up its engagement with relevant employers in the public health sector to ensure basic welfare needs and outstanding demands of health workers are met. In his concluding remarks, he urged the National Executive Council members to actively participate in all proceedings of the meeting and make useful contributions in the interest of the Union’s members and Nigerians.

NEC-in-Session after extensive deliberations on the current socio-economic situation in the country and matters affecting health workers, observed and resolved as follows:

State of the Nation

NEC-in-Session discussed the copious socio-economic and political situations in the country and observed as follows:

1. Insecurity: NEC-in-Session while commending the Federal Government for her efforts towards the fight against insecurity, particularly banditry, insurgency, kidnapping etc. observed with great concern the activities bandits and unknown gun men across the nation, especially the killing of innocent citizens and security men. 
2. Electoral Act: NEC-in-Session lauded the National Assembly for the passage of the amended Electoral Bill and President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Bill into law. NEC noted that a country’s electoral law determines the validity and reliability of the electoral process and the quality of leaders that emerge through the process. NEC however observed some controversies and litigations associated with certain section of the Act especially Section 84 (12). 
3. High Cost of Living – NEC- in Session observed with deep worry the rising inflation and its attendant effect on livelihood and living condition of workers and citizens in general. NEC identified certain indicators like food shortage due to insecurity, high exchange rate, mass unemployment, fuel shortage and epileptic power supply as largely responsible for the excruciating hardship that have push most Nigerians to extreme poverty.
4. Energy Crisis  - NEC commended the organised labour for its stand on the removal of fuel subsidy, but frowns at the fact that despite the position of organised labour, cost of fuel is still extremely very high, and have eluded the purchasing power of majority of Nigerian workers and masses. The current fuel crisis in the Nation has lasted for so long, thus aggravating the already bad situation of the masses. NEC also frowned at the national embarrassment of importation of toxic fuel into the country. The increase in price of cooking gas, kerosene and diesel has also added more burden to an average Nigerian whose daily survival depends on these products.
5. Power Outage: NEC observed with dismay the epileptic power supply across the country for over a month now. NEC noted that this situation has imposed more hardship on most Nigerians and has adversely affected many Nigerians whose livelihoods are derived from this source.
6. Transportation Challenges: NEC-in-Session was extremely worried about the shortage and attendant high cost of Jet A1 Aviation fuel which has astronomically led to the increment in airfare and making the safest means of transportation today in Nigeria out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians who move from one place to another for survival. NEC while lauding the giant strides of the Buhari’s administration in rail and road infrastructures, berated in strong terms the bad state of some federal and state roads in some parts of the country and the associated security concern. 

NEC-in-Session while concluding discussion on the state of the nation resolved as follows:

1. NEC charged government at all levels to intensify efforts in ensuring that other forms of uprising, criminality and other security concerns across the nation are properly addressed, in the best interest of the unity of the nation. NEC also called on workers and all citizens to be vigilant and complement government’s effort to fight holistically all forms of insurrections and violent crimes. 
2. NEC called on the National Assembly to address as quickly as possible the controversial section in the Electoral Act 2022 as amended in order not to erode the gains of the latest amendment.
3. NEC demanded for immediate response by the Federal Government and other levels of government to address all indicators of the present economic hardship in the country and extreme poverty. NEC called on the Federal Government to fulfil her promise on the payment of palliatives to less privileged Nigerians.
4. NEC-in-Session urged Federal Government to investigate and bring all those involved in importation of toxic fuel to book while finding a quick and lasting solution to the fuel crisis. More importantly, NEC called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps towards criminal prosecution of those involved in subsidy scam and tackle corruption associated with turn around maintenance of the nation’s refineries. NEC also demanded immediate overhauling of existing refineries and give conditions to upstream oil and gas players to build refineries. 
5. NEC urged Federal Government to address the shortage of aviation Jet A1 fuel in order to avert possible ground to halt of airline operation in the country. NEC called on the Federal and State Governments to rehabilitate bad roads within their jurisdiction and step up action in the expansion of rail transport system to cover major cities in the country. 

State of the Health Sector

NEC-in-Session critically analysed the state of the health sector with respect to welfare of health workers, health infrastructure, management of public health institutions, discriminatory practices and other salient issues on accessibility, affordability and quality of healthcare service delivery in Nigeria. NEC consequently observed and resolved as follows:

COVID-19: NEC observed respite the low corona virus infection rate recorded in recent times and commended the Federal Government on various measures put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic especially on the procurement of vaccines, provision of many molecular laboratories and other equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lassa Haemorrhagic Fever: NEC-in-Session appraised Lassa fever and other haemorrhagic viral infections whose outbreak has been witnessed in some parts of the country in recent times. NEC however expressed concern over the slow response of government and other relevant stakeholders to contain the spread of this life threatening fever.

Presidential Committee on Health Reform

: NEC-in-Session frowned at the non-inclusion of Health Sector Unions and other professional associations in the health sector in the committee, most especially the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals in the Presidential Committee on Health Reform, headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo. The Union had written to the appropriate quarters without response on the need to redress the skewed composition of the committee where Physicians constitute about 90%. This, NEC viewed will affect the integrity of its report as not representing the true situation of the sector, such exclusion of other critical stakeholders is against the principle of natural justice and will further undermine industrial relations atmosphere in the sector and deepen inter professional rivalry.

Bill to amend University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstruction of Boards etc) Act Cap U15 LFN, 2004: NEC-in-Session commended the National Assembly, most especially the leadership of the House of Representatives, for taking a bold step towards amending University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstruction of Boards etc) Act Cap U15 LFN, 2004 formerly known as Decree 10 of 1985. It was the promulgation of this Decree in 1985 during General Ibrahim Babangida’s military administration that crashed the Nigeria’s health sector from its enviable 55th position now 187th out of 191 countries of the world by the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) ranking. Before then, Professional Hospital Administrators were managing the nation’s hospitals. If passed into law, the new act will ensure that the Hospital Administrators or Health workers with bias in Health Administration and Management are appointed to management the hospitals nationwide the way it was pre-1985 during the Buhari-Idiagbon’s military administration. This will guarantee effective, efficient and professional management of the hospitals in line with global best practices.

Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2020: NEC was particularly disturbed with the dangerous intention advanced by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to mislead the National Assembly into repealing the MDCN Act 1998 to give its powers to regulate other health professionals against the Rule of the National Assembly as there is a pending litigation court over the matter. 

CONHESS Adjustment: NEC-in-Session observed nostalgia the slow-paced ongoing processes and discussions between Federal Government and Joint Health Sector Unions on CONHESS adjustment. It was further observed that the long delay by the High-Level Body Committee set up by Federal Government in concluding the process is causing uneasy situation amongst affected health workers especially members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals. 

April and May 2018 Withheld Salaries: NEC-in-Session praised His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari for his kind consideration and directive last year that the withheld April and May 2018 salaries of Federal health workers be paid. In view of the long delay in the payment, NEC-in-Session suspended deliberations temporarily and entered into an intensive prayer session, asking for God’s intervention in the payment of the withheld salaries.

Brain Drain in Health Sector: NEC-in-Session was alarmed by the rate health workers especially professionals in the Union are trooping out for greener pasture in other countries. NEC was amazed by the recent findings that 7,000 who are members of the Union had left the shores of Nigeria for another countries in the last few years. NEC after critical situational appraisal, adduced the push mobility factor to poor welfare and working conditions, inadequate state of the art health facilities and other socio-economic conditions in the country.

Abia State Health Workers: NEC-in-Session frowned profoundly at the 10 months and 26 months’ salary arrears owed health workers by Abia State government in Abia State Hospital Management Board and Abia State University Teaching Hospital respectively. NEC acknowledged the fact that the Abia State Council of the Union has been engaging the state government on how to pay these arrears of salaries, but was unhappy with the unnecessary delay that could further inflict more financial hardship on health workers in the state particularly members of the Union. 

New Hazard Allowance: NEC-in-Session acknowledged with delight the approval by Federal Government on the payment of a new hazard allowance for health workers in Federal Health Institutions. NEC expressed disappointment that since the circular was issued last year with an effective date of 1st December, 2021, Health Workers are still receiving a paltry sum of N5,000.00 as hazard allowance. NEC also observed that most of the Union members and other health workers are increasingly becoming victims of health hazards on daily basis. 

Pharmacists Consultant Cadre: NEC-in-Session observed that despite the circular released since 2020 by the Head of Service of the Federation on the Pharmacists Consultant Cadre, Governing Boards and Chief Executive Officers of most Federal Health Institutions have bluntly refused to implement the circular. NEC was particularly worried about the inability of the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure compliance through its supervisory role. 

NEC-in-Session after critical observation and evaluation of the state of the health sector resolved as follows:

1. Governments at all levels should employ and train more health personnel to man health facilities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels; as urgent measure to bridge the human resource gap in the public health sector.
2. Federal Government should put in place appropriate measures to address factors leading to exodus of health professionals to Europe, Asia, North America, etc. 
3. Federal Government should step up efforts towards containing the outbreak of Lassa fever and other haemorrhagic viral infections whose outbreak has been witnessed in some parts of the country in recent times.
4. NEC demand immediate payment April and May 2018 withheld salaries of health workers and the new hazard allowance with all arrears paid.
5. Federal Government should conclude all processes leading to the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
6. National Assembly should stop legislative action on the Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2020.
7. Federal Ministry of Health should direct Boards and Chief Executive Officers of Federal Health Institution yet to implement the circular on Pharmacist Consultant Cadre to do so, any infraction should attract severe sanctions
8. House of Representatives should continue the legislative process to amend the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstruction of Boards etc) Act Cap U15 LFN, 2004 formerly known as Decree 10 of 1985
9. NEC demand immediate resumption of negotiation by Abia State Government and Health Sector Unions on the payment of salary arrears. NEC however resolved to use to make national the struggle to ensure payment of these arrears if the state government rejects the option of social dialogue.
10. NEC-in-Session resolved that the Union and other health sector Unions could no longer guarantee industrial harmony if Federal Government appropriate authorities delay further in the payment of the new hazard allowance and April and May 2018 withheld salaries including addressing other salient demands of members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals and other health workers.

Signed:

Comrade Obinna Ogbonna    

President                                 

Comrade Martin Egbanubi

General Secretary 

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