The Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has called on the federal government to immediately pay the outstanding seven-month arrears resulting from the 2024 salary adjustment.
This demand was made in a communique issued on Tuesday following the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NUAHP and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) held in Jos, Plateau State. The communique was jointly signed by Kamal Ibrahim and Martin Egbanubi, the union’s national president and general secretary, respectively.
NUAHP represents a wide range of healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, imaging scientists, dental technologists, occupational therapists, health information management practitioners, dental therapists, and dietitians, among others.
The union expressed deep concern over the federal government’s delay in implementing the approved 25% and 35% upward review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
“The NEC-in-session expressed dismay at the non-payment of the seven months’ arrears (June to December 2023) of the CONHESS adjustments, despite the fact that these funds were already captured in the 2024 budget and now also included in the 2025 budget,” the communique stated.
The union leaders reminded the government of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with JOHESU on October 29, 2024, which led to the suspension of a nationwide strike. They noted that the federal government has yet to honour the commitments outlined in the agreement.
NUAHP and JOHESU warned of the possible resumption of industrial action if the government fails to urgently address their demands, emphasizing the negative impact such a strike could have on the nation’s healthcare system.
Additionally, the unions called on all levels of government to introduce tax relief on clinical allowances such as call duty, shift duty, and teaching allowances to help alleviate the financial burden on health workers amid the rising cost of living.
They also appealed for the implementation of a retention allowance as a means of encouraging healthcare professionals to remain in the country.
