Health sector unions in Lagos State have launched a three-day warning strike in response to the government’s failure to implement necessary adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The union coalition includes the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
In an interview with NAN on Wednesday, Oloruntoba Odumosu, Secretary of NANNM, confirmed the strike would proceed after the expiration of an ultimatum issued by the unions.
Odumosu noted that a meeting between union leaders and state government officials on December 9 ended without a resolution. “Government officials were unable to provide a definitive timeline for implementing our demands, and there was no governor’s approval for the payment. We reported this feedback to the Congress, which was convened at our secretariat, and the members unanimously voted against any delay, insisting on moving forward with the strike,” he stated.
He expressed frustration over the protracted nature of the issue, despite numerous attempts to resolve it amicably. “It has become evident that the government does not treat this matter with the urgency it requires. Our engagement on December 2 with the Ministry of Establishments and Training only further underscored our concerns, as it failed to clarify how the adjustment would be calculated,” he said.
Odumosu highlighted that Lagos State does not fully implement the CONHESS structure, and there was no definitive timeline provided for payment. “This is disheartening, especially since adjustments for doctors have already been enacted as of October 2024. Such an approach, which favors certain segments of the health workforce while neglecting others, is divisive and undermines the overall morale of health professionals in the state,” he added.
He lamented the government’s apparent indifference to their legitimate demands, despite the essential services provided by union members to ensure quality healthcare for Lagos residents. “With the government’s handling of this situation, we have no option but to initiate this warning strike from December 11 to December 13. Our goal is to press for the full implementation of the CONHESS adjustments for all eligible health workers in Lagos State,” he asserted.
Similarly, Kamaldeen Kabiawu, State Secretary of NUAHP, criticized the delayed implementation of the 25 percent CONHESS adjustment, especially in light of the government’s approval of a 35 percent CONMESS adjustment for doctors in October 2024. The strike is expected to impact all state-owned health facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), general hospitals, and primary health centers (PHCs).
