Communiqué Issued at the end of the 9th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Medical and Health Workers' Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Held on April 26-29 at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites Kado-Abuja

Introduction

 The 9th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Medical and Health Workers' Union of Nigeria held on April 26-29, 2015 at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Kado-Abuja, with 436 delegates representing MHWUN's State Councils in all the States of the Federation, the Federal Area Council and the Federal Capital Territory. The opening session was attended by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivitly Senator Joel Ikenya (represented by the Director of Trade Union Services, Barrister (Mrs) Chinedu Dike), the Deputy Presidents of Congress, Comrade Peters Adeyemi and Comrade Najim Yatsin, the General Secretary of Congress, Comrade Peter I, Ozo-Eson, other CWC members of Congress as well as as leaders of industrial unions

 

 The Conference was observed by the Public Services International, represented by Brother Sani Baba, the English-Speaking (East and West) Africa sub-regional secretary of PSI, and the Health Services Workers' Union of the Trades Union Congress of Ghana, represented by Brother (Rev) Richard Yeboah, and Brother Reynolds Tenkorang, National Chairman and Deputy General Secretary of the HSWU respectively and the Registrar of Trade Unions Mrs Mbogu.

 

 The theme of the Conference, In Defense of Health Workers: Re-inventing Virile Trade Unionism  in Nigeria, set the context for delegate in taking stock of the activates of the union since its 8th Quadrennial National Delegates and strategizing towards consolidating on the building of the 21st Century MHWUN as a strong, virile and dependable union to continue to defend the nights and promote the interests of health workers, while serving as a lodestone for the working class movement in Nigeria and globally, in our collective struggle for social justice, greater equality and peace.

 

 After intensive and extensive deliberation by delegates, the Conference resolved thus

 IN DEFENCE OF HEALTH WORKERS AND QUALITY HEALTH FOR ALL

1.  The Conference-in-session x-rayed healthcare delivery in Nigeria and observed the yawning gap between expectations when the Millennium Development Goals were set for 2015 in 2000, and the existing reality. Conference-in-session was particularly bothered by the state of the public health system which is the only recourse for the poor masses and called for drastic steps to be taken in revamping public healthcare delivery, towards ensuring universal healthcare;

 

2.  Realising that grossly inadequate funding of public health is one of the reasons militating against quality health services for the immense majority of the population, Conference-in-session called upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to uphold the Abuja 2010 Declaration of African Heads of States to commit not less than 15%  of budgetary provision to health;

 

3.  The central place of the health worker for the delivery of health services, Conference noted, cannot be overemphasized. Conference-in-session thus regretted the extreme shortage of health professionals which has done serious harm to the functionality of the nation's health system. Towards curbing this dire state of affairs.

 

 Conference demands that federal and state governments institute strategies for arresting brain drain from the sector including increased tangible and intangible motivation, and commence rapid employment of health professionals at all tiers of the health system;

 

4.  The Conference-in-session notes the critical place of continued training and re-training of health professionals for re-tooling of human resources for health in the system. Regrettably, apart from Medical and Dental Practitioners, there appears to be a near zero-concern for the training and re-training of other health professionals. Conference-in-session, therefore, calls on the FGN for a rethink, for a continued training and re-training, of other health professional and staff to enhance health services delivery;

 

5.  The degree of dilapidation of health facilities and training institutes across the country was cause of deep worry. This has led to hollowing out the knowledge that student being trained to become health professionals are being equipped with and it does not augur well for immediate and future healthcare delivery in the country. Many courses in several colleges of health technology and university teaching hospitals across the country have thus lost accreditation, despite the fact that they continue to churn out human resource for health in a limited attempt to address the quantitative shortage of health professionals. Conference-in-session thus demands that a state of emergency be safeguard the integrity of health services delivery, now and for the future.

 

6.  The Conference-in-session welcomed the passage of a National Health Act, as this has been a demand of MHWUN for over a decade. It was recalled that MHWUN collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health under the leadership of Professor Eyitayo Lambo as the Honourable Minister in formulating the first draft of a National Health bill.

 

 It was equally noted that MHWUN in conjunction with other health sector unions and professional associations under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) mobilised public opinion against earlier attempts at distorting the spirit of the bill on the altar of medical and dental practitioners' professional chauvinism, for which Conference-in-session commended the leadership of the union and JOHESU as a whole, appreciating the all inclusive process of legislation and the well thought out contents of the enacted National Health Act.

 

 Conference-in-session thus calls for all hands to be on deck in collectively implementing the provisions of the Act and pledged MHWUN's unwavering commitment to work within the ambit of the National Health Act in its pursuit with other stakeholders in the sector, to enthrone universal Health Coverage;

 

7.  Perennial industrial conflict including strikes and mass protests has unfortunately become the bane of the health sector. Conference-in-session realised that the fault for this lies squarely at the doorsteps of the Local, State and Federal Governments, which have developed a penchant for not respecting Collective Agreements reached with trade unions. Conference-in-session observed that, despite fervent efforts to maintain peace and harmony out of the concern of MHWUN and its members for the patient's life and good health, the Federal Government has time and again made it impossible to avoid a number of strikes due to its non-implementation of the May 10 2012 Collective Agreement and other related Collective Agreements it reached with JOHESU, even after the National Industrial Court ruled that these be upheld, on July 29, 2013. Conference-in-session thus demands the unequivocal implementation of all agreements entered into with JOHESU by the Federal Government forthwith, to avoid a renewed spate of deepening conflict in the sector Reminding President Goodluck Jonathan of his promise to do just this, which led to the suspension of the JOHESU strike in February, Conference-in-session demands that this be done before the May 29 handing over date:

 

8.  The Conference noted with pride that, MHWUN was the first trade union in the country to organise a National Youth Conference and democratically elect a National Youth Committee, on March 30-31, 2012. This is a further testament to the pace-setting place of MHWUN within the trade union movement, haven also been the first union to orgainse a National Women Conference and democratically elect a National Women Conference on May 23-25, 2014.

 

Nothing the strategic role of youth in sustaining the future of the union; Conference in session resolved to prioritize youth mainstreaming at all levels of the union's structure, including the establishment of State Youth Committees and the involvement of the representatives of young workers in the multifarious activates of the union, towards promoting the ideological, political and administrative flourishing of youth, in securing a great future for the 21st Century;

 

TRADE UNIONISM AND THE WORKING CLASS

9.  The Conference-in-session decried the non-payment of salaries to workers in almost half of the states of the federation. This was considered quite appalling. An end has to be put to this sorry state of affairs and steps put in place to avoid such a scenario ever occurring again. MHWUN thus throws its weight behind the ongoing efforts of the Nigeria Labour Conger to remedy the situation, and Conference-in-session urges all organs and members of MHWUN across the Federation of step up the struggle for the prompt payment of the outstanding salaries of Nigerian workers.

 

Conference-in-session condemns the attitude of praise singing for Governors who perform their statutory obligation of paying the worker his due wage, as if they were doing charity to Nigerian workers;

 

10.  The Conference-in-session was convinced that the current take home pay of the average Nigeria worker cannot take her/him home, not to talk of living on.www.nursingworldnigeria.com

Conference-in-session was thus convinced of the urgent need for a living wage campaign towards ensuring that a new national minimum wage, which is a living wageis and employers in the organised private sector to pay, against the current miserly N18,000 national minimum wage which several states-government are yet to even pay, four years after the current National Minimum Wage Act was passed;

 

11.  The Conference-in-session rued the continued deregulation of labour through the expansion of casual and contingent labour, in various the expansion of casual and contingent labour, in various guises. Nothing that this vitiates commitment to the International Labour Organisation's Decent work Agenda, which, the Federal Government of Nigeria has made, Conference-in-session thud called for the regularisation of all contingent staff employed by the Federal and State Government. Further, the contracting-out of labour undermines the dignity of workers and the integrity of the work environment. Conference-in-session, therefore, resolved that MHWUN would work closely with NLC and other social forces committed to fighting the malaise of casual labour and for the enthronement decried austerity

 

12.  The Conference-in-session decried austerity measures that negatively impact on workers such as an increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT), Nothing that the pauperisation of working people was worsened by the neoliberal policies that have led to a global economic crisis which has impacted on demands for oil, as world production slows down, Conference-in-session strongly averred that the working class must not in any way be made to pay for the greed of capitalists. It was of view that curbing corruption would make more resources available for the government to fulfill its obligations to the people. Conference-in-session thus called for: a steeper progressive taxation system which would make the rich pay more; the phasing out of regressive taxation such as VAT which places a greater tax burden on the poor masses, and; the institutionalisation of zero tolerance to corruption;

 

13.  The Conference-in-session expressed its abundant joy and heartfelt appreciation of the confidence reposed in our great union and National President Com (dr) Ayuba P. Wabba, Mni, as clearly demonstrated with the election of Comrade Wabba as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the 11th National Delectates conference of Congress. Conference-in-session noted that elections at the NDC were adjudged free, fair, transparent and credible by a broad spectrum of labour veterans, trade unionists and civil society activists within and beyond Nigeria who witnessed these, as well as Nigerians who witnessed these, as well as Nigerian who watched the televised process on national television networks and the Federal Ministry of Labour which observed the entire process of the elections. It is thus regrettable that a few comrades and unions who lost out at the elections have chosen the path of splinter politics, not based on any credible principle. MHWUN being a union committed to the unity of the working class, Conference-in-session urges them to embrace the reconciliation efforts instituted by veterans of the NLC towards enthroning unalloyed unity of the working class in Nigeria.

 

STATE OF THE NATION

14.  The Conference-in-Session critically looked at the 2015 General Elections and celebrated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for organising the most successful elections in our country's history, commending Professor Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman, for innovations in the electoral processes which enabled Nigerians to truly decide, through the ballots. The union further commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for keeping to his promise, to allow and support INEC in conducting free, fair, violent and credible Generak Elections and for the spirit of statesman ship demonstrated with his timely conceding of defeat, which has readily changed the political environment in Nigeria for good.

 

15.  While noting the progress already made in developing electoral processes where the people's voted are counted and do count, Conference-in-Session opined that it is not yet Uhuru, MHWUN urges INEC not to rest on its oars in making sure that credible elections are made the cornerstone of a more democratic Nigeria. For democracy to truly be a government of the people, by the people, for the people, it must evolve into participatory democracy including processes like people's budget formulation as is done in several parts of the world like Porto Allegre in Brazil, Lerala in India and San Francisco in the United State, where mandate from below is sought for critical issues that affect the lives of the working masses and not only once in four years for political offices, after which those elected become de facto masters, instead of servants of the people;

 

16.  The Conference-in-session looked at the much touted fight against corruption and concluded that nothing reasonable has been done in curbing the scourge of this bydra-headed leach which undermines the social fabric of the nation, Conference-in-Session, therefore, called on the in-coming Government to employ all powers at its disposal to fight this monster, for excepts of the economy all powers at its disposal to fight this monster, for except so done, the anticipated positive change in all aspects of the economy of Nigeria would be a mirage. The Conference-in-Session noted that a situation where known corrupt public office holders are celebrated, even by the government of the day, is a tacit encouragement of this vicious menace, and a model for dubious leaders to emerge tomorrow, and therefore, called on the Government to ties against this, no matter whose ox is gored;www.nursingworldnigeria.com

 

17.  The Conference-in-Session commended the FGN for the inroad it has made against insurgency in all parts of Nigeria, especially in the North East zone. However, Congress-in-Session expressed its sadness over recent attacks on innocent Nigerians slain while returning to their homes already reclaimed and under the control of the Nigerian Army by a gang of insurgents in military uniforms, and the bombing of a community radio house with four workers shot dead by insurgents in Kogi state. Conference-in-session thus called for even more efforts to full stamp out terrorism and insurgency in all forms across the length and breadth of the country;

 

18.  The conference-in-session noted that a huge burden rests on the shoulders of the in-coming government of the APC's General Muhammadu Buhari, considering and resounding vote for change which brings it onto the saddle of governance by may 29, Conference-in-session observed commitments in the party's manifesto which it welcomed such as the provision of 3 million new jobs, conditional cash transfers for 25 million poor people, free and qualitative education and the revamping of the health sector to ensure better health for all; Conference-in-session urged the APC to ensure it fully implements the social contract it has thus entered into with the people of Nigeria, for it to maintain the goodwill it enjoyed at the polls

 

INTERNATIONAL SITUATION

19.  The Conference-in-Session unequivocally condemned the spate of xenophobic killings and wanton destruction of properties and businesses owned by foreigners, particularly fellow Africans, including Nigerians, in South Africa, NHWUN considers this a very unfortunate ill wind that blows no one any good, after the contributions and sacrifices Nigeria and other African countries made in the struggle against apart held in pre - 1994 South Africa.

 

Conference-in-Session therefore, called on the Government of South Africa to take necessary actions to put an end to this tragedy and put measures, in place to forestall future occurrences.

 

Conference-in-Session also commended the actions of the Southern African working class against the xenophobic killings and enjoined the country labour movement not to relent in continuing to forge unity and solidarity of workers from below irrespective of nationality or race;

 

20.  The Conference-in-Session empathized with the people and Government of Nepal Over the devastating earthquake that has claimed over 4,000 lives and called on the international community to respond to this catastrophic natural disaster with the sense of urgency and fullness of commitment it deserves.

 

MHWUN particularly extended its heartfelt condolence to the Nepal Health Workers' Union (NHWU) and the Nepalese labour movement as a whole, at this tragic and will do all it can to help assuage the pain of affected working people;

 

21.  The Conference-in-Session expresses deep concern over the increasing degree of migration of productive growths from developing countries to the west, resulting from economic hardships, bad governance and fratricidal wars which they choose for flee from, at home. This rising spate of migration and the tightening of migration controls by developed countries reflect a dangerous dimension of the new face of imperialisn and have become more worrisome with the increasing death tolls of migrants on the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara desert.

 

Conference-in-session thus called for a new world order which places people before profit and eschews wars, such that neoliberal policies and conflicts that are the Marjory push factors of migration are done away with, while more humanrie migration laws rooted in the international Convention on the Right of All Migrants and their Families, are enthronated in the Global North.