The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address lingering salary and welfare issues affecting health workers, warning that continued delays could trigger another round of industrial action in the nation’s health sector.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the appeal in a letter dated August 6 and addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment. The letter was made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ajaero expressed concern over what he described as the prolonged delay in the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), as well as the unresolved demands of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
According to him, members of JOHESU have continued to wait for the implementation of agreements reached with the Federal Government, despite several Memoranda of Understanding, terms of agreement and Collective Bargaining Agreements signed by both parties.
“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 Minister of Labour and Employment to facilitate the immediate resumption of collective bargaining negotiations between the government and JOHESU.
He also called for the intervention of the Presidential Committee on Salaries to ensure that all outstanding issues, particularly those relating to the health workers’ salary structure, are addressed without further delay.
Ajaero said the labour movement was deeply concerned about alleged discriminatory practices and the impact prolonged industrial disputes continue to have on health workers and Nigerians who depend on public healthcare services.
He warned that the collapse of ongoing efforts to resolve the dispute could have serious consequences for the already fragile health sector.
“It needs no telling that the consequences of a complete breakdown in negotiations are quite grave,” he said.
While stressing that the NLC’s intervention should not be seen as a threat, Ajaero maintained that the Congress would stand firmly with JOHESU should the union be forced to embark on further industrial action.
“We strongly urge that you do all that is within your power to ensure immediate resumption of the collective agreement negotiation,” he added.
The NLC, therefore, called on the Federal Government to demonstrate stronger commitment to honouring agreements with health workers, resolve all outstanding issues and avert what could become another major industrial crisis in the country’s health sector.
(NAN)
Post A Comment: