Posted on: Tue 11-10-2022

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF NIGERIAN UNION OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (NUAHP), HELD AT THE TRAUMA CENTER HALL OF NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA.

PREAMBLE 

The opening ceremony was held at the trauma center hall of National Hospital, Abuja and was graced by special invitees which includes; the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Clara Paulido Escandell, the President of the Trade Union Congress, Com Festus Osifor, ably represented by Comrade Anka; the Ag. Chief Medical Director of National Hospital Dr. Aisha Umar ably represented by Ag. Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee Dr. Badejo. Also, the Director of Administration, National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Peter Egwakhide represented by the Deputy Director/HOD industrial Relation and welfare Mr. Bashorun Yusuf; HRH Dr. Adetayo Haastrup, (Olumobi of Imobi-Ijesa); the Medical Director, FMC Jabi Prof. Sa’ad Ahmed represented by Comrade Talatu Haruna, Vice Chairman NANNM; also Prof. Povey Drew, Lead Researcher, Iva Valley Book Publications. The National President, Comr Dr. O. C. Ogbonna, in his opening remarks welcomed all our guests and members who have travelled far and wide to attend this event. He appreciated the protem EXCOS of NUAHP in National Hospital Abuja, and in a very special way, thanked the management of National Hospital for providing us with the venue for the NEC meeting. He thanked Almighty God for granting all our visitors and members’ safe trip to the venue. The event was finally declared open by Comrade Korede, Chairman Joint Union Action Congress FCT.

STATE OF THE NATION 

ASUU STRIKE – The educational system of our country is in a comatose state, and the situation has been worsened as a result of the on-going strike action by Academic Staff Union of Universities, which has lasted for 7months and still counting. This has thrown our youths, most of whom are children of our members and Nigerian workers, into vices and criminality, and has constituted a huge impediment to nation building. NEC in session calls on Federal Government, to quickly reconcile with ASUU and see that our universities are fully re-opened for academic activities.

SECURITY – The security situation in the country, as at today, is still very alarming. We appreciate the recent efforts of the federal government in confronting this challenge, but we believe that more needs to be done to clamp down criminality. Its becoming a national embarrassment, within and outside the country, that criminal elements over power security agents, maim and kill them, kill so many civilians and take hostages. This is totally unacceptable, and we call on Federal government to expedite action in addressing this. 

HIGH COST OF LIVING – Nigeria has remained the poverty capital of the world for so long, not because the country is poor, but because poor leadership has thrown most of our citizens into poverty, and Nigerian workers are not exceptions to this situation. Today, cost of transportation has increased exponentially, cost of food have eroded the financial grip of the salary of most of our members, cost of electricity, (which is largely epileptic), have also increased; in fact, the only thing that have not increased in the midst of all this inflation, is workers salary. NEC in session calls on government to put up policy, targeted towards strengthening and stabilizing the naira. In the interim, NEC recommends, that government should forthwith, introduce Cost of Living allowance (CoLA) into workers salary as an interim way of cushioning the effect of the current excruciating hardship. 

2023 ELECTION – NEC in session commends INEC for the conduct of some state elections across the country. NEC in-session also commends INEC for extending the time of Permanent Voter Registration (PVR), in response to the demands of the Nigerian People, and pray the commission to ensure that all Nigerians that participated in the PVR exercise, gets their permanent voter’s card before the election.

NEC also expressed concern on the dimension campaigns have gone over the years in Nigeria; the union advice politicians and political parties, to focus on issue-based campaigns and avoid campaign based on religious and ethnic considerations. NEC also appeals to security agencies, political parties and INEC to ensure violent free, fair and credible elections come 2023. 

INFRASTRUCTURAL DECAY – NEC in session noted that the level of infrastructural decay across the country is alarming. The National grid is frequently collapsing, flood is currently damaging property of citizens and rendering most Nigerians homeless in some parts of the country, the condition of our roads is in a disastrous state. Federal Road Safety Commission in newspaper publication of vanguard 28th September, 2022 informed the world that Nigeria have recorded 65,053 road accidents in the past 6years with 32,617 mortalities on Road Traffic Accident in Nigeria within the period under review. NEC in-session, calls on all levels of government in Nigeria, to declare a state of emergency on infrastructural decay, especially on Nigerian Roads. 

STATE OF THE UNION CONHESS ADJUSTMENT – NEC in session appreciated the Presidential High[1]Level committee for having concluded work on the upward review of CONHESS salaries for health workers. NEC expressed worry, that the enhanced CONHESS salary have not been circularized and implemented, and wonders the reason for the delay, especially with the complacency of Federal Ministry of Health over such a sensitive matter. NEC reminds Federal Government, that this adjustment was supposed to have been done in 2014, and demands Government to expedite action in the direction of paying this enhanced CONHESS that is long overdue. This will foster a lasting industrial harmony in the health sector. 

BRAIN DRAIN – The rate at which health care professionals are leaving Nigeria is alarming and if not curbed, would further deteriorate the health system in Nigeria. NEC In-session observed that over 9,000 of our members have left the shores of Nigeria for greener pastures. NEC also observed that the reason for this mass exodus is largely based on underfunding of the health sector and poor welfare package for health workers. NEC urges government across board, to increase budgetary allocation to health to 15% as contained in the Abuja declaration of 2001 and improve cum expedite action on welfare package for health workers

HAZARD ALLOWANCE – NEC In-session observed with dismay, that up till this moment, Nigerian health workers are still receiving the paltry sum of N5,000 as hazard allowance, even when His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved a new hazard allowance for health workers in Nigeria, since December 2021. The union demands immediate implementation of the approved new hazard allowance for health workers by government at all levels on or before, 31st October, 2022 together with the accrued arrears without further delay, so as to forestall breakdown of industrial harmony in the health sector. 

PRESIDENTIAL HEALTH REFORM COMMITTEE – NEC-in-Session frowned at the non-inclusion of Health Sector Unions and other professional associations in the health sector, 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% of the membership. NEC in its view noted that this glaring lop-sidedness will certainly affect the integrity of the eventual outcome; as such exclusion of other critical stakeholders is against the principle of natural justice and will only further undermine industrial relations in the sector and deepen inter professional rivalry.

BILL TO AMEND UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS (RECONSTITUTION OF BOARDS ETC) ACT CAP U15 LFN, 2004: NEC in session appreciated the National Assembly for the successful conduct of the public hearing on the Bill for an Act to amend the University Teaching Hospital Act CAP U15 LFN 2004. NEC hereby appeals to the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of that Bill for the betterment of the Nigerian people and the Nigerian health sector. If passed into law, Nigerians will forever remember the 9th Assembly, as the Assembly that made a remarkable legislation, in rescuing Nigeria from the shameful ranking of 187th position out of 191 countries of the world by the latest World Health Organization ranking of health systems.

CONSULTANCY CADRE OF OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: NEC observed that despite the recent circular cum scheme of service released by the Head of Service of the Federation on appointment of pharmacists as consultants, Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Health Institutions have bluntly, with the support of Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), refused to implement the circular. The FMOH claimed to have written the Head of Service for clarification since June 2021. The Ministry since then refused to follow up the matter. That suspicious step alone has prevented the implementation of the circular. This delay tactics in implementing government circular and scheme of service by Heads of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions can only be best described as an attempt by some professionals to suppress the growth and development of health professionals in our union to consultant status, which is the global gold standard in health care practice. NEC calls on Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies of government, to quickly implement the pharmacy consultancy cadre without further delay. 

UPWARD REVIEW OF MONTHLY CHECK-OFF DUE 

NEC-in-Session approved that the monthly check-off deduction be reviewed upward from 1% to 2% immediately the new Hazard Allowance is paid. 

CONCLUSION 

NEC appreciates the Hon. Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Musa Bello, for the serenity and security of the FCT. NEC also appreciates the Ag. CMD of National Hospital, Dr. Aisha Umar, for providing us with venue for our activities. Finally, NEC appreciates all our guests and NEC members for their presence and active participation in the proceedings of the meeting. The National President, Comrade Dr. O. C Ogbonna, wishes all NAC and NEC members’ safe trip back to their destinations.

Signed:

Comrade Dr. O.C Ogbonna 

National President 

Comrade Martin A. Egbanubi 

General Secretary

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