Health workers in Lagos State began a three-day warning strike on Wednesday to press demands for complete implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS.
The strike, which will run from December 11 to December 13, was called by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives , NANNM, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals , NUAHP, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria , MHWUN, and the Joint Health Sector Unions , JOHESU.
The strike is set to affect all state-owned health facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital , LASUTH, general hospitals, and primary health centers , PHCs.
The unions represent a wide range of health professionals, including nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians, medical laboratory scientists, optometrists, radiographers, dental therapists, medical physicists, health information managers, clinical psychologists, and medical social workers.
Oloruntoba Odumosu, Secretary of NANNM, explained that the decision to proceed with the strike came after the expiration of the unions’ ultimatum. He disclosed that a meeting with state government officials on December 9 ended in an impasse, as no clear timeline for the implementation of the salary adjustments was provided, nor was there any confirmation of the governor’s approval for the payments.
“We reported the feedback to the Congress, which was ongoing at our secretariat, and it unanimously voted ‘No,’ insisting on proceeding with the strike,” Odumosu said.
He emphasized that, despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue amicably, it had become clear that the government was not taking the matter seriously.
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Odumosu expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the matter, despite previous engagements with the Ministry of Establishments and Training. “Engagement on Dec. 2 with the Ministry of Establishments and Training further reinforced our concerns as the meeting failed to provide clarity on the computation method for the adjustment,” he said.
He also pointed out that while doctors had already received their adjustment, which was implemented in October 2024, other health workers were left waiting.
“This is especially disheartening as adjustments have already been implemented for doctors since October 2024. This approach, which prioritises some segments of the health workforce while neglecting others, is divisive and undermines the collective morale of health professionals in the state,” Odumosu added.
Odumosu voiced his disappointment with the government’s apparent indifference to addressing their legitimate concerns. He stressed that health workers played a crucial role in providing quality healthcare to Lagos residents, making the delay in the salary adjustment all the more troubling.
“The handling of this matter has left us with no other choice but to resort to this warning strike, spanning from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13,” Odumosu said, reaffirming that the strike was aimed at pushing for the full implementation of the CONHESS adjustment for all eligible health workers in Lagos.
Kamaldeen Kabiawu, the State Secretary of NUAHP, condemned the delay in implementing the 25 percent CONHESS adjustment, particularly in light of the government’s decision to approve a 35 percent CONMESS adjustment for doctors in October 2024. He called the disparity unfair and urged the government to address the issue promptly.
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