Salary adjustment: FG to examine agreement with health professionals

The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU) agreement with the federal government is being reviewed.

This was said by Mr. Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment, after receiving JOHESU members, led by Mr. Olumide Akintayo, in his office on Thursday in Abuja.

“I want to reassure JOHESU that the ministry would do the necessary, and deploy every necessary effort to see to the amicable and satisfactory resolution of the issues,” he stated.

The team’s leader, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, had earlier stated that they had come to the ministry to officially congratulate the minister.

Akintayo added that the purpose of the visit was to enlist the minister’s assistance and understanding in order to actualize the fulfilment of many agreements signed between them and the federal government.

But he pointed out that one of the major

The Consolidated Health wage Structure (CONHESS), which had not been put into effect since it was established, has concerns with wage adjustments for health employees.

He asked the minister to request an immediate action from the Presidential Committee on Salaries, which has the authority to advocate for its execution, in his capacity as Chief Conciliator.

He informed the minister that JOHESU was not interested in utilising strikes to further its objectives but would instead look into the mechanisms of negotiation to preserve industrial unity.

After a meeting with JOHESU on September 8, 2021, the former minister of labour, Chris Ngige, reportedly stated that all of the issues in contention had been resolved. He added that topics discussed included the hazard allowance, the review of the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, and arrears relating to the adjustment on the new national minimum wage.

He continued, “Agreement was also obtained on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) upward increase, as done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

The minister was cited by NAN as saying, “Based on prior discussions, we delivered to them (JOHESU) the financial implications of what is owed to them and they promised to get back to their members and report back to us.”

According to NAN, JOHESU sought the prompt payment of any omissions or deficits in the COVID-19 hazard allowances for the impacted healthcare professionals working in federal health institutions.

In order to get payment of the hazard allowance, they also asked for recognition of health workers in non-core hospital facilities.

They urged that the retirement age be quickly raised from 60 to 65 years old and raised to 70 years old for consultants in the health professions.