The Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has demanded immediate payment of the seven-month arrears of their 2024 pay rise, to avert industrial action.

The decision was reached at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of NUAHP and Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on Tuesday in Jos.

A communique was issued at the end of the meeting, jointly signed by Kamal Ibrahim and Martin Egbanubi, the national president and general secretary of the body.

Members under the NUAHP include the pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, imaging scientists, dental technologists.

Others are occupational therapists, health information management practitioners, dental therapists, dieticians and other related Health professionals.

The union leaders said the NEC expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in implementing the 25 per cent and 35 per cent Review of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

“The NEC-in-session was particularly worried about the seven months’ arrears (June 2023 to December 2023) of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent CONHESS in spite of being captured in the 2024 budget and now in the 2025 budget.

“NEC described the delay in the payment as unacceptable and considered it a violation of item five of the FG-JOHESU Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 29, 2024, and the resolution reached on December 20, 2024, respectively.

“NEC, therefore, demands the payment of these arrears without further delay to avert industrial action,” they said.

They contended that despite the signing of the MoU between the federal government and JOHESU on October 29, 2024, after the suspension of the union’s nationwide strike, the government had yet to fulfil its obligations in the agreement.

They urged the government to consider the implications of resuming the suspended strike action on the health sector and the nation in general if it failed to urgently address the matter.

“NEC calls on President Bola Tinubu to honour his promise to JOHESU by directing relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and other organs of the federal government to expeditiously deal with this matter for sustainable industrial harmony and in the public interest,” they said.

The unions also urged the government, at all levels, to implement tax reduction on clinical allowances like call duty, shift duty, and teaching to cushion the effects of the high cost of living on the livelihood of health workers.

“It called on the government to grant a subsidy on electricity tariffs to Nigerians in low-income residential areas, hospitals and educational institutions across the country.

“The NEC also urged the government to consider decentralisation of power generation, transmission and distribution amongst sub-national,” they said

The union leaders said NEC also called on the government to step up actions through political will to ensure the nation’s refineries are producing at optimal capacity.

They urged the government to make petroleum products available at affordable prices.

(NAN)