Lagos State health workers have commenced a three-day warning strike to demand the implementation of adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which has been pending for several months.
The strike, which began on December 11, will run through December 13, and is being led by several health sector unions, including 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).
The decision to proceed with the strike follows the expiration of a previous ultimatum issued to the Lagos State government, which failed to implement the necessary salary adjustments.
According to Oloruntoba Odumosu, the Secretary of NANNM, union leaders met with state government officials on December 9, but the discussions ended without a resolution.
Odumosu revealed that the government had failed to provide a clear timeline for the implementation of the adjustment, nor had it secured the approval of the state governor for the payment.
“The government officials couldn’t give us a clear timeline for the implementation of our demands and there’s no governor’s approval for the payment,” Odumosu stated in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“We reported the feedback to the Congress, which was ongoing at our secretariat, and it unanimously voted ‘No’, insisting on proceeding with the strike.”
The unions had made numerous attempts to resolve the issue amicably, including a meeting with the Ministry of Establishments and Training on December 2.
However, that meeting also failed to produce any concrete answers regarding the computation method for the adjustment.
Odumosu emphasized the concern that Lagos State does not fully implement the CONHESS structure and that the state had not provided a definite timeline for when payments would be made.
This delay has been particularly frustrating for health workers, as doctors in the state have already received their adjustments, with a 35% increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) approved for them in October 2024.
The health workers argue that this selective implementation of salary adjustments has created a divide within the healthcare sector, undermining the collective morale of all health professionals.
“The government’s approach, which prioritises some segments of the health workforce while neglecting others, is divisive,” Odumosu said. “It undermines the collective morale of health professionals in the state.”
Kamaldeen Kabiawu, the State Secretary of NUAHP, also criticized the delayed implementation of the 25% CONHESS adjustment, noting that the government’s failure to act has forced the unions to take a more drastic step.
“The handling of this matter has left us with no other choice but to resort to this warning strike,” Kabiawu stated.
The ongoing strike will disrupt services at all state-owned health facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), general hospitals, and primary health centres (PHCs).
Health workers are determined to press their demands for the full implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, which they believe is essential for maintaining equity and morale within the healthcare system.
As the strike continues, the unions have made it clear that they will not back down until their demands are met, leaving the state government with a significant challenge to resolve the situation and avoid further disruption to healthcare services.
