HEALTH professionals under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) have urged   President Goodluck Jonathan and the Supervising Minister   of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, to prevail on chief medical directors  (CMDs)  and medical  directors (MDs)  of  public  hospitals  to  stop  implementation of no-work-no-pay circular issued  in  November by  the  Federal Ministry  of Health against  them, even  as  they  alleged  that  they are  being  intimidated by  agents  of  the  Federal  Government  for  embarking  on an  indefinite strike.  

 

In a statement issued by the union after its National Executive Council (NEC) held in Ebonyi State recently, the health professionals stated that  the  current  victimisation is  an attempt   to  force the union members to end  its two-month old strike in an unjust manner, adding  that  such  intimidation amounts to  double  standards. 

 

The statement, which was signed by NUAPH President, Mr Felix Faniran, and the General Secretary, Mr. Obinna Ogbonna, specifically accused the medical director of Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu and the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Bida of withholding the November  salary  of  the  union  members because  of the  no-work-no-pay circular earlier  issued   by  the  Federal Government. 

 

The union also urged the “University of Uyo Teaching Hospital to stop further intimidation and harassment of our members and immediately withdraw the queries issued to three of the leaders of our union for enforcing a national strike.”      

 

NUAPH, however, wondered why the  Federal  Government  was  bent   on victimising  them , as against  what  obtained when  medical  practitioners under   the  umbrella  of  the  Nigerian  Medical  Association (NMA) were  treated  with kid-glove  the latter’s  nationwide strike  last  year. 

 

NUAHP commenced industrial action  October 16 , 2014 and later joined by other unions in  the  Joint  Health  Sector Unions (JOHESU) from November 12, 2014 to  demand for the payment of arrears on skipping of  consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) 10 salary among  other  unfulfilled  agreements by  the  Federal Government. 

 

The union   put  the minimum conditions for suspending or calling off the ongoing  to include the  immediate release of the circular on adjustment of salary; immediate payment of two months arrears on newly adjusted salary structure with the promise to pay the remaining in 2015 budget; immediate release of circular on the payment of arrears on skipping of CONHESS 10 salary; circularisation of retirement age of healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years ; payment of arrears of specialist allowance to all hospital-based healthcare professionals who possess a relevant post graduate qualification like  master’s degree, PhD, or post graduate fellowship  and immediate release of circular amending the extant circular for medical laboratory scientists interns to include post -NYSC placement on grade level 09 step 2 and the upgrading of stale officers across  board.

 

 

The statement read: “NUAPH is disturbed by the activities of government and agents of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) towards the incessant harassment and intimidation of our members who are on strike, whereas, our members are legitimately permitted by law to embark on industrial action to drive home our demands, you would recall that members of NMA whose association is not legally registered as a trade union embarked on strike in July and August, 2014 without any molestation by government.

 

“NUAPH frowned at the circulars of no-work-no- pay  circular issued in November and December, 2014 respectively by officials of Federal Ministry of Health. NEC observed that members of our union are being victimised because they are not medical practitioners noting that when the NMA and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) embarked on strike between July and August, 2014, this kind of action was not taken against them despite the fact that these two bodies are not registered trade unions and were actually bared from embarking on strike by the judgment of National Industrial Court (NIC). Instead of losing their salaries, they were indeed rewarded with two extra months salary arrears on a new salary package.    

 

“Presently, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu and the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Bida withheld the November, 2014 salary of our members in these institutions due to the November circular. The NEC is also calling on the management of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital to stop further intimidation and harassment of our members and immediately withdraw the queries issued to three of the leaders of our union for enforcing a national strike. The NEC sees this action as discriminating, double standard and an act of victimisation. If this present action is not stopped now, it may fuel the on-going strike and worsen the inter – professional relationship among the sector workers. 

 

“The NEC therefore is calling on Mr. President and the honourable minister of health to prevail on the director of hospital services to withdraw the “no- -work- no-pay circular” she issued without permission and direct the chief medical directors and medical directors of the institutions concerned who had or intended to implement this circular to stay action not to aggravate the present industrial unrest in the health sector. Similarly, a similar circular by the permanent secretary of the ministry should also be withdrawn.”

by Joseph Okoghenun