Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has pledged full support for the indefinite strike declared by the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU.
This was contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
It would be recalled that the strike followed the federal government’s continued delay to implement the latest Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with health unions on October 29, 2024.
“The demands of the striking health workers include the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, which the federal government had delayed for several years,” the NLC said.
It said CONMESS meant for medical doctors has been implemented since 2014, adding that CONHESS for other health professionals remain unpaid.
According to the Congress, this has caused frustration among health workers.
It said in spite of several agreements, including an MoU signed on September 30, 2017, government had repeatedly failed to honour the payment of CONHESS.
The congress recalled a promise by the previous government to get approval for CONHESS payment within five weeks, a commitment yet unfulfilled seven years later.
NLC said if the flagship CONHESS demand was not resolved promptly, it may mobilise all workers in solidarity with JOHESU.
NLC said health workers would no longer wait indefinitely for the implementation of agreed salary structure.
“The patience of health workers has been stretched thin. We urge the federal government to respect collective bargaining agreements or face intensified labour action,” the congress stated.
