NUAHP Urge FG to Reduce Tax on Clinical, Retention Allowances of Health Workers

• Long delay in the implementation of CONHESS adjustment unacceptable

With the growing rate of brain drain in the health sector, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has called on federal and state governments to pay retention allowance as an incentive to motivate healthcare professionals who chose to stay back in the country.

The call was part of the resolutions reached at the national executive council meeting of NUAHP held in Jos, Plateau state last week.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the NEC meeting, NUAHP urged government at all levels to give tax reduction on clinical allowances like; call duty, shift duty, teaching among others, to cushion the effect of high cost of living on the livelihood of health workers.

The communiqué signed by Comrades Kamal Ibrahim and Martin Egbanubi, President and General Secretary respectively, said the NEC-in-Session, after critical appraisal of the current high cost of living and its implication on members’ welfare and push factor of migration, opined that government should come up with incentives like tax reduction and retention allowance to motivate healthcare workers, alleviate economic hardship and provides short term measures that will reduce migration of healthcare professionals to other countries (Japa Syndrome).

NEC-in-Session noted that the long delay in the implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment for members of the Union and other healthcare workers is unacceptable.

“NEC was particularly dismayed that, since 2014 when the agitation started after the Federal Government violated the collective bargaining agreement establishing the two salary structures in the health sector by adjusting Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for Medical Practitioners without replicating same to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for other health workers.

“NEC also noted that, despite the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Federal Government and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on 29^th October 2024 after a conciliation meeting that led to the suspension of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) nationwide strike action; the Federal Government is yet to fulfill its obligation contained in the MOU.

“NEC-in-Session warns about the implication of resumption of the suspended strike action on the health sector and the nation in general if the Federal Government fails to urgently address this matter which is a dispute of right.

“NEC therefore calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to honour his promise to JOHESU National Leadership at a meeting held in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on 5^th June, 2023 by directing relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and other organs of the Federal Government especially the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) to expeditiously deal with this matter for sustainable industrial harmony and in public interest,” the communiqué read.

NUAHP commended Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, for issuing a directive to the Chief Executive Officers of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) for immediate implementation of the circular on Consultant Pharmacist Cadre.

NEC further noted and lauded the 16 Federal Health Institutions who had implemented the circular and directives so far.

It, however, condemned in its entirety, the recent call by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), especially the Lagos State Branch, for the withdrawal of letters of appointment from the pharmacist consultants and suspension of the implementation of extant circular and directives on pharmacist consultants.

“NEC considered this as an act of provocation that is capable of heating up professional rivalry in the health sector with attendant consequences on industrial harmony and healthcare services.

“NEC demands that, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare commence application of sanctions on the Chief Executive Officers of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) yet to implement the circular and directives on Pharmacist consultants in compliance with the item 2 of the Resolution reached at the end of the conciliation meeting between Federal Government and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on 20^th December, 2024 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 29^th October, 2024.”

NUAHP urged all members across the country to exercise patience with the leadership of the Union as the leadership is working assiduously through sustained engagements with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to making sure that outstanding demands and other welfare matters of members of the Union are met and addressed accordingly.