The combined ultimatum issued by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the ongoing strike by the combined Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has been denounced by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Government has been given a 14-day deadline starting on January 23 by the NLC and TUC to implement the 2021 report of a Technical Committee on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Additionally, if the Federal Government did not take action, the unions threatened to organize a nationwide strike for both the public and private sectors.
NMA National Publicity Secretary Dr. Mannir Bature called the joint NLC/TUC ultimatum needless during a press conference in Gusau on Monday.
According to Bature, the NMA was especially worried about the issuance of public ultimatums on a subject that needed institutional involvement, technical knowledge, and meticulous verification.
He stated, “We urge the TUC and NLC to exercise caution, restraint, and responsibility in their public communications, especially on sensitive salary structure issues, so as not to misinform workers or the general public.”
Additionally, Bature denied assertions made by the NLC and TUC that the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) was “upgraded” by the federal government in 2014.
Additionally, the NMA expressed worry over recent claims made by the TUC and the NLC that the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) was “upgraded” in 2014.
“We characterize the assertion as deceptive and capable of escalating labor disputes within the health sector.”
“The NLC/TUC’s claims have the potential to exacerbate labor unrest in the health sector,” he stated.
He claims that the NMA explicitly confirms that, contrary to erroneous claims, there was no CONMESS update at all.
“What happened was a correction of a long-standing error and distortion in the application of the CONMESS framework, which had persisted despite clear approvals and established public service guidelines,” Bature continued.
“It is therefore false and misleading to say that this correction is an attempt to portray it as preferential treatment, and it runs the risk of causing needless tension within the health sector.”
Bature went on to say that at a time when cooperation and unity were vitally needed to address the structural and pervasive problems facing Nigeria’s health system, these narratives had the potential to fuel preventable inter-professional conflict.
“The NMA urged the Federal Government to continue concentrating on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process as the proper, legal, and organized framework for addressing welfare, compensation, and labor issues in the health sector.
“The NMA highlights how urgently the government must rationalize the health workforce in a way that puts efficiency first.”Comprehensive participation, sincere talks, respect for current agreements, and adherence to clearly defined professional roles and obligations are, in my opinion, what the health industry needs,” he continued.
In the best interests of healthcare professionals and the Nigerian public as a whole, Bature reaffirmed the NMA’s dedication to positive communication, openness, and interprofessional harmony. (NAN)
