The leadership of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Bayelsa State chapter, has joined the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), demanding the swift adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Speaking on Tuesday, the state Chairman of NUAHP, Fefegha Edwin, disclosed that the decision to embark on strike was difficult but unavoidable following prolonged negotiations over the adjustment of the CONHESS without meaningful progress since 2014.
Edwin, while addressing members of the union at their secretariat, said health workers have remained committed to their duties for years, but the persistent failure of the federal government to implement the agreed CONHESS adjustments despite three separate adjustments made to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
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He also affirmed the union’s commitment to securing fair compensation, improved working conditions, and better service delivery for health workers.
National Public Relations Officer of NUAHP, Stanley Edumson, noted that the government’s refusal to honour the agreed terms has kept everyone at a standstill, adding that the reason why they embarked on the strike action was because they couldn’t take the government’s position.
“Two salary structures were enacted, and as a provision in the content of those agreements was that when there are adjustments, they must affect both structures.
“But three times, the other one has been adjusted, but the one that affects us most has not been adjusted.
“Whenever there’s a strike, it affects the patient most, and they suffer more. So, we are appealing to them to look at that agreement, which is key to the progress of the sector,” Edumson said.
