The federal ministry of health has released a circular on the 29th of July 2015, Ref No C. 2262/T/111 and addressed to all chief medical directors/medical directors/ chief executives and titled " Explanatory note on skipping in consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS), 

 

The circular as obtained by a medicalworld Nigeria correspondent reads thus:

 

The federal ministry of health (FMOH) has received several letters from the chief executives of federal tertiary hosptials seeking clarifications on SKIPPING as it applies to CONMESS. The same can be said of others blaming the management for not honouring the directive of the office of head of the civil service of the federation on the matter.

 

The circular No: HCSF/EPO/EIR/63755/T1/195 dated 19th of december 2013 from the head of the civil service of the federation applies to medical officers in the federal public services which is a product of the agreements signed with the NMA on the 16th December 2013 and 2nd janaury 2014

 

The basis of the extension to medical officers is predicated on the judgement of the national industrial court of Nigeria dated 22nd july 2013 wherein the honourable court upheld the skipping of level 10 in CONTISS and its allied salary structures

 

You would recall that CONTISS was the salary structure for all health workers including medical officers in the federal public service. The CONTISS Structure served as the precursor for both CONHESS and CONMESS with attahed conversion table

 

In view of the above, the federal ministry of health has examined the table and confirmed that CONHESS 10 is equivalent to CONMESS 2. This is the level from where skipping is to be effected. Therefore, practical guidelines obtainable in your hospital which was applied to the implementation of skipping in CONHESS should be applied to skipping in CONMESS

 

All CMDS/MDs are directed to note this interpretation for use in guiding the implementation off the aforementioned circular and for thier future budget articulation believeing that it is the lack of this interpretation that brought about the uneven implementation of the circular amongst the tertiary hospitals; giving rise to the ongoing industrial action

 

The management of the federal ministry of health is therfore using this medium to appeal to the CMDs/MDs to expedite action and ensure that the contents of this circular is properly interpreted and implemented accordingly.

 

Signed: L. N Awute mni (permanent secretary)

Click here for copies of the circular PAGE ONE PAGE TWO