Health workers in Lagos state organised a 3-day strike in the second week of December. The workers are members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) which are both part of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
The unions were protesting the non-implementation of adjustment on the Consolidated Health Sector Salary Scale (CONHESS). Their demand is for a 25% upward review of the CONHESS. This will still be less than the 35% upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) that was approved for doctors in the state, earlier in October.
The health sector unions had put forward their demand to the Lagos state government for several months before embarking on the warning strike. The government ignored them. And even after the strike, the government is yet to act, despite embarking on negotiations, which seem to have been aimed at calming the unions down.
But the workers will not be cowed. They have vowed to continue with the pursuit of their demands for the CONHESS adjustment and improved working conditions for health workers in 2025. If the government refuses to take necessary action to the benefit of the workers as required, an indefinite strike action might take place in the coming weeks or months.
SWL fully supported the warning strike, joining the health workers at the barricades of their struggle. And we will stand in solidarity with the unions in taking forward this struggle until victory is won.
by Segun OGUN
