The Nigerian Association of Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, the Nigerian Association of Laboratory Scientists, NALS, and the Association of Hospital Administrative Pharmacists, AHAP, Kaduna State Chapter, have embarked on a 5-days industrial action.
According to reports monitored in the State, there was strict adherence to the industrial action. Reports from some of the major health facilities in State at the Sabo General Hospital in Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area, the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, and the Gwamna Awan General Hospital, Kaduna were all affected.
This even as workers in various Government-owned hospitals across Kaduna State embarked on a five-day warning strike on Monday. The workers are protesting the non-implementation of the 2009 CONHESS and hazard allowance by the State Government.
DAILY POST who monitored the development on Monday, reported the absence of nurses from the hospitals visited.
“A nurse at one of the Government hospitals, who came in later, informed the patients that she was giving them their last medication as they were on strike, Daily Post reported.
One patient who spoke to the Daily Post expressed concern over the development.
“I became worried because I know my daughter is very sick,” Daily Post reported.
“Another patient appealed to the Kaduna State Government to respond quickly to the plight of the health workers. He stated the strike is affecting ordinary citizens seeking medical care.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Nurses and Midwives, Kaduna State Chapter, Comrade Ishaku Yakubu, commented on the development. He stated that they are demanding their 2009 CONHESS and 2022 hazard allowance. Which, according to him, the Government has failed to fulfill for several months.
Yakubu regretted that the Government keeps giving them empty promises.
He said, “In 2023, the union wanted to go on strike, but the Government set up a committee to address the issue. The Committee conducted a thorough review of the CONHESS salary structure for doctors and other health workers.
Yakubu added that the Government promised to implement the salary review for all health workers. “However, while doctors received their balance of the 2014 CONHESS, nurses are still waiting for their balance of the 2009 CONHESS.
The NANM Chairman noted that they have been asking for their demands and the 2022 hazard allowance.
He stated that in November 2023, the Commissioner for Health invited them to calculate the financial implication of the 2022 hazard allowance. Which they did and submitted.
Yakubu therefore, stated that when the Commissioner reviewed the bill, the government promised to pay them 50 percent in 2023. And to pay the remaining 50 percent in 2024. “However, this promise has not been kept,” he said.
Yakubu also added that Governor Uba Sani is a labour-friendly Governor. He, therefore, expressed hope that he would address their demands, as they do not want to criticize him harshly.
He, however, insisted that they would only call off the strike if their demands were met.
source: Daily Post
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