The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said that the government through his ministry has resolved the grievances of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals.
Ngige disclosed this in a statement issued after a five-hour meeting with the members of JOHESU in Abuja on Tuesday, stating that both parties have reached an understanding on all the issues in dispute.
Recall, the Union had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet their demands or embark on indefinite strike action over outstanding welfare issues with the union.
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JOHESU had demanded the adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES) as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since 2014, payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of members and withheld Salaries in Federal Medical Center, Owerri, JUTH and LUTH.
Also included in the demand are review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance, implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Consent judgment and other court judgments, increase in the retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals.
Ngige, who explained that they had fruitful discussions, assured that the Memorandum of Understanding would be signed next week.
He said, “Based on the previous discussion, we delivered to them (JOHESU) the financial implication of what is due to them and they promised to get back to their members and report back to us.
“On the other hand, the Government is meeting with NMA next week for their separate discussion on hazard allowance. Already the Federal Government has budgeted the sum of N37.5bn for this.
“The issue was resolved to the satisfaction of all of us. The government is not delaying the hazard allowance as some people want the public to believe.”
He explained that the government, in the last six months has been making efforts to implement the new hazard allowance.
As contained in the statement by the Mnistry spokesman, Charles Akpan, all demands are being considered including the enhancement of hazard allowance, review of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, the arrears of the consequential adjustment of the national minimum wage and upward adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure as done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure.
He further urged the union to take new issues to their employer, the Federal Ministry of Health, for discussions.