The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the salary concerns of health workers to prevent another industrial crisis in the nation’s health sector.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the call in a letter dated Aug. 6 and addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment. The letter was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ajaero expressed concern over the delay in reviewing the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and resolving the outstanding demands of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
He said members of JOHESU had endured prolonged delays despite several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), terms of agreement and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) reached with the government.
“Years after signing MoUs, terms of agreement and CBAs, in addition to promises and assurances from appropriate authorities, members of JOHESU have been ignored or abandoned,” Ajaero said.
The NLC president urged the government to immediately resume collective bargaining negotiations with JOHESU and mandate the Presidential Committee on Salaries to address the outstanding issues.
He also raised concerns over alleged discriminatory practices and the human cost of prolonged industrial disputes in the health sector, warning that a breakdown in negotiations could have serious consequences.
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“It needs no telling that the consequences of a complete breakdown in negotiations are quite grave,” he said.
Ajaero stressed that the appeal should not be viewed as a threat but warned that the NLC would fully support JOHESU if the union was forced to take further action.
“We strongly urge that you do all that is within your power to ensure immediate resumption of the collective agreement negotiation,” he said.
He called on the government to demonstrate stronger commitment to resolving the outstanding issues and avert another industrial crisis in the health sector.
