The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has called on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to urgently address the lingering irregularities surrounding the implementation and payment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to all eligible healthcare workers in the state.
CONHESS is a nationally approved salary structure for healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health workers.
Speaking during the National Women Leadership Development Workshop (Southeast Zone) held at the Arbovirus and Research Centre in Enugu, the union’s Secretary General, Comrade Auwal Yusuf Kiyawa, urged the state government to align with other states that have fully implemented CONHESS.
“There is an urgent need for Governor Peter Mbah to ensure that all medical and health workers in Enugu State receive the CONHESS salary structure,” said Comrade Kiyawa.
“Other states have implemented it, and I believe His Excellency, known for his timely payment of salaries, would not want Enugu to be left behind.”
Kiyawa also expressed appreciation to the governor for creating a peaceful and supportive environment for hosting the workshop.
Echoing Kiyawa’s concerns, Mrs. Nnenna Juliet Oriedu, Chairman of MHWUN Enugu State Council, pointed out that while two out of the three unions under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) umbrella have been paid CONHESS, the core health workers—such as porters, orderlies, and health attendants—are still excluded.
In her remarks, Mrs. Oriedu also appealed to the governor to support the union’s infrastructural needs:
“We kindly request Governor Mbah to assist the Enugu State Council with a plot of land and a utility bus to help us build our permanent secretariat and serve our members more effectively.”
The five-day workshop, themed “Empowered to Lead: Advancing Women’s Skills in Trade Union Leadership Toward a Just Transition in the Health Sector,” aims to build the capacity of women in leadership roles within the union. The initiative, which began in 2008, promotes gender inclusion, leadership development, and skills enhancement among women in the healthcare sector.
National President of MHWUN, Kabiru Ado Sani, stressed the importance of empowering women to lead in the face of workplace challenges such as gender-based violence, discrimination, and the need for upskilling in a rapidly changing work environment.
Meanwhile, the National Chairperson of the Union emphasized that women’s leadership is key to achieving a just transition in the health sector. She called on state chairmen and union leaders to reaffirm their commitment to gender inclusion by involving more women in union governance, leadership development, and decision-making processes.
