NMA protests against FG, non-medical workers agreements

Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Sunday expressed opposition against ongoing negotiation with non-medical workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU/AHCP).

The Association stated this in a letter titled: ‘Re: An urgent call for an intervention to redress aberations in health service in Nigeria’, sent to Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senate President; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Chairman, National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, among others.

Some of the issues raised include: Adjustment of CONHESS scale, Appointment of other health professionals as consultant/payment of specialist allowance, Skipping of CONHESS 10 and payment of arrears in compliance with National Industrial Court of Nigeria judgment, Appointment of CMDs/MDs of tertiary hospitals in accordance with the extant laws, Retirement age, Abolition of the position on Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) and Stagnation and nomenclature, among others.

Mike Ozovehe Ogirima, NMA President and Yusuf Tanko Sununu, NMA Secretary General in the letter, noted that the cost implication for adjusting CONHESS and applying the relativity rates to  CONMESS after adjusting CONHESS is estimated to be N21.7 billion.

“JOHESU/AHPA has no justification whatsoever to demand for adjustment of salary scale as was done for CONMESS. What JOHESU/AHPA is asking for is equal pay with medical doctors. NMA wishes to remind government that relativity exists between the CONMESS and CONHESS structures.

“This was signed between the Federal government and the NMA on the 2nd of January, 2014 after more than 22 years claim of distortion was proved statistically to be correct. The proof was predicated on MSS/MSSS for medical doctors and HSS for other health workers as contained in circular 1, of 1991 which gave birth to the two salary structures.

“We wish to place on record that JOHESU had approached the Industrial Arbitration Panel and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on pay parity with medical doctors without success. The NICN rightly rejected and DISMISSED the case based on constitutional proviso which recognized equal pay for work of equal value. JOHESU members could not prove if there was an initial agreement on parity or if they are medical doctors doing the same job.

“For emphasis, the NICN warned that it should not be brought before her again until they prove that they do the same job as medical doctors. This same type of judgment had been handed over to Non Academic/Administrative staff in the University hence the difference between CONUASS for Academic staff and CONTISS for Non Academic/Administrative staff in the University. The same scenario is in existence in the Polytechnics, Research Institutions, Colleges of Education etc.

“We wish to draw your attention to the report of the technical sub-committee on critical matters in the health sector. NMA wishes to place it on record that JOHESU’s Demand for “Adjustment of CONHESS” (i.e Harmonization/Removal of Relativity) could not be justifiedas no single evidence was provided by JOHESU to JUSTIFY their demand (which was one of the main term of reference for the committee) just as the NMA team was not sufficiently allowed to engage JOHESU in robust debate.

“NMA had informed you and the FG that there is no agreement on this between NMA and JOHESU as we insisted on 2014 agreement signed between NMA and the FG. Consequently, the NMA advised JOHESU to seek for salary review/increase/adjustment with a caveat that CONMESS shall get proportionate review/increase/adjustment in line with the FG and NMA signed agreement of 2014,” the letter read in part.

While reiterating its resolve to partner Federal Government in its bid to ensure lasting peace and progress in the health sector by relying on international best practices, the Association however, vowed to resist “violence, intimidation and outright falsehood reminiscent of JOHESU/APHA’s trade mark. The care and safety of the patients remain our eternal interest.

“The NMA wishes to humbly re-state her earlier positions as contained in our letter no: NMA/PRE/SG/03/0751 dated 21st March, 2014 which ended thus: ‘in view of the above, the NMA painfully wishes to inform the Federal Government of Nigeria that any award to the non-medically qualified health professionals that violate the January and July agreements of 2014 shall result in the resumption of the suspended withdrawal of service of 2014.”

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja