Katsina Health Workers Issue 21-Day Ultimatum To Govt

The Assembly of Health Care Professionals in Katsina State has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to address the welfare and professional demands of its members.

The Assembly, comprising various unions representing health care professionals, gave the ultimatum yesterday during a media briefing in Katsina.

It stressed that the workers have no option than to go on a statewide strike if their demands are not met.
The chairman of the Assembly of Health Care Professionals of Nigeria (AHAPN), Comrade Ibrahim Balance, read the workers’ position and expressed concern over what the continued delay by the state government in addressing their legitimate demands.

Balance said the health workers had engaged the government on several occasions and submitted correspondences on their welfare, but regretted that there had been no significant progress in resolving the issues.

He said the delay had negatively affected the morale, motivation and productivity of health care professionals, despite their continued commitment to providing quality healthcare services to the people of the state.

According to him, the Assembly was compelled to issue the 21-day ultimatum after spending considerable time seeking a common solution with the government.

Among the demands, the health workers called for the immediate implementation of 100 per cent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), in line with what they said was obtainable in federal health institutions.

They also demanded the skipping of CONHESS 10, as contained in their previous submissions and correspondences with relevant government committees.

The Assembly further demanded an immediate review of hazard allowance to 100 per cent, as well as upward reviews of call-duty, shift-duty, clinical, non-clinical, rural and specialist allowances.

It also called for the immediate review of uniform allowances for nurses and other health care professionals in line with the scheme of service applicable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Balance said the other demands contained in the Assembly’s previous correspondences must also be addressed by the government.

He maintained that the demands were fair, just and necessary to improve the welfare of health care professionals and strengthen healthcare delivery across Katsina State.

The chairman warned that should the government fail to address the demands within the 21-day period, the Assembly, comprising the affected health sector unions but excluding the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), would have no option but to “down tools.”

The Assembly, however, expressed hope that the state government would act promptly to resolve the issues and avert any disruption of healthcare services.