Health workers demand FG clear 7 months’ salary arrears

Health workers are pressing the Federal Government to clear 7 months’ worth of salary arrears, highlighting ongoing financial difficulties.

A compelling plea has been made by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) to the federal government, urging them to promptly settle seven months’ worth of unpaid salary arrears owed their members.

Kabiru Sani, the President of MHWUN, addressed financial difficulties faced by health workers resulting from delayed payments during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Friday. He stressed the pressing need for government intervention to settle eight-month salary arrears owed to regulatory agencies associated with the health sector as well.

Sani pointed out that there are two unresolved concerns to address: the outstanding non-payment of seven months’ salary arrears and aligning the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) with similar structures.

Sani urged the federal government to promptly disburse funds required for addressing overdue arrears owed to union members and regulatory agencies. Despite policy reversal, he highlighted that these crucial funds are still pending release.

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Expressing concern over the declining state of healthcare infrastructure in the country, the President of MHWUN urged government officials to implement policies that tackle underlying factors causing brain drain and mass movement among health professionals.

Joining the conversation, Ayuba Wabba – a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) – cautioned against perceiving labour unions as menaces to democracy. He emphasized safeguarding workers’ rights, underscoring that any infringement upon these liberties could weaken the nation’s democratic framework.

Wabba asserted that the compromise of citizens’ fundamental rights poses a significant risk to democracy as it directly impacts the rights of workers.