Posted on: Mon 15-08-2022

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY MEETING OF SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES, TEACHING HOSPITALS, RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS (SSAUTHRIAL) (TEACHING / SPECIALIST HOSPITALS SECTOR) HELD 27TH – 28TH JULY, 2022 AT THE NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU, ENUGU STATE 

The council in session discussed issues bothering on welfare and condition of service of our members, the state of the nation and resolved as follows:

ADJUSTMENT OF CONHESS SALARY STRUCTURE 

Council urges the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency to implement the 30th September 2017 agreement on adjustment of CONHESS Salary Structure, which it agreed to implement to the letter within 5 weeks of signing the agreement about 5 years ago. 

PAYMENT OF NEW HAZARD ALLOWANCE 

Council appreciates the Federal Government for approval and circularization of the new hazard allowance for health workers. However, despite the circularization of the approval with implementation from 2022 Budget, Council notes with dismay the non-payment of the new hazard allowance and therefore requests the Federal Government to expedite actions on the implementation. 

NON-PAYMENT OF PROMOTION ARREARS

Council observes with displeasure that some institutions still owe their staff promotion arrears from year 2017 till date. Council therefore, call on the Federal Government to make funds available to IPPIS to clear the backlog of arrears without further delay.

COVID-19 SPECIAL INDUCEMENT ALLOWANCE 

Council urges the Federal Government to pay the balance of 40% being two months of COVID-19 Special Inducement allowance owed our members. Consequently, the erroneously paid 10%. While those institution that have not been paid should be paid in full. 

ENROLLMENT OF NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE AUTHORITY (NHIA) TO RETIREES 

Council express concern how unaffordable and stressful it is to access a good healthcare facility for treatment by our retirees due to their disenrollment from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), immediately after retirement from service. Council therefore, urges all relevant authorities in the National Health Insurance Authority to begin the process of extending the benefits of the scheme to retirees in line with the country’s journey to universal health insurance. 

UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (RECONSTITUTION OF BOARDS ETC) ACT (AMENDMENT) BILL

Council appreciates the concerted efforts o the Federal House of Representatives for sponsoring a bill to amend the Act CAP 463 LFN, known as the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstruction of Boards, etc.) in Nigeria in order to ensure fairness and equity in Hospital management, as it is no longer in tune with the current operations of our tertiary health institutions. Council strongly believes that the amendment of this bill will suitably liberalize the headship of teaching hospitals/ federal Medical Centres with a view to appointing credible, professionally unbiased, experienced health administrators or professionals that will provide the enabling environment and equitable allocation and utilization of resources which is in tandem with International best practices (A typical example of this is one if the African countries, Kenya where a Nurse was appointed as Head/CEO of a Government Teaching Hospital) for optimal discharge of quality health care at all levels in Nigeria. 

COMMERCIALIZATION OF HOSPITAL SERVICES 

Council is disheartened with rate at which healthcare services are being commercialized in our various hospitals in the country, a situation where Government staff is no longer provided with workable equipment but rely on private partnership which result to increase in payable charges of treatment bill of the patients without any gain to the hospital rather the private entities. This if not properly curbed will continue to serve as a source of fund generation to these private entities at the expense of the patients. Council therefore, urges Federal Government to look into the factors causing this with the aims to discouraging it. 

STATE OF THE NATION

Council is displeased with the unprecedented rise in the trend of inflation, unemployment, kidnapping, banditry and all sorts of criminalities in various parts of the county. Council therefore, demands that government arrest this degenerating security situation with immediate effect to improve the quality of lives of all Nigerians before it is too late. 

Signed:

Comrade Kabir Mustapha CNG

Ag. Sector Chairman 

Comrade Joseph C. Ugwoke (JP)

Sector Secretary 

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