Half of Newly Employed Health Workers Left Due to Poor Remuneration - NUAHP

 

Half of Newly Employed Health Workers Left Due to Poor Remuneration - NUAHP

...As Union threatens to embark on Strike 

From Uchenna Ezeadigwe 

Awka

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has stated that no fewer than half of the recuited health workers in Anambra state have left their services and migrated to other places due to poor remuneration of salary as well as adequate welfare of its members.

News Echo reports that the union is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing all health professionals that have common issues and trade such as the physicians pharmacists, physiotherapists, lab scientists, optometrists, radiographers, health information managers, clinical scientists, dieticians among others, are unhappy, 

Spokesperon who is th Chairman of NUAHP, Anambra state,and the Secretary Southeast, Comrade Charles Nwoye, disclosed this to our Correspondent during the press briefing held recently at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka. 

Speaking to newsmen, Comrade Nwoye said "the current struggle we have is a situation where we want to improve the welfare and the health system in general. We are committed to seeing that the health system in Anambra state is moving from strength to strength, we know that the governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is also interested in making sure that the health sector is progressing to the next level. It is our duty as the field workers to make sure that whatever is needed especially the policy and agenda of the state government is met because we are the people who are on the ground and overseeing the whole processes by working day and night to ensure it remains progressive". 

"We took an oath of allegiance and that oath ensures that you do anything possible within the ambit of your capacity to make sure you save a life first. But a situation where we are doing this and not being cared for, becomes pathetic. He who is taking care of others without being taken care of is not sure of his discharge to responsibilities". 

Comrade Nwoye however, lamented that members are now drifting out not only to foreign countries but neighbouring states where their counterparts are paid higher, a situation he sees as pathetic and heartbreaking.

He appreciated the governor's employment in the health sector while pointing out that if the issue of remuneration is not tackled, the state may lose more of these employed staff. " Health professionals were employed last year and I can tell you vividly that half of the recruited health workers in the state have gone, yes more than half have gone out and it is not that they travelled overseas, some of them travelled to other hospitals, nearby states and some are seeking Federal jobs and they are going".

He noted that some of these neighbouring states who maintain some of these health systems in check is because they try to equlibrate with the federal government. "Here in COOUTH, almost 90 per cent of professionals in Amaku are still going for interviews, writing applications to NAUTH, Parkline Enugu, Orthopaedic, UNTH, FMC Onitsha/Asaba and that is why the government can go on to employ two thousand or more and nothing seems tocbe happening. As we are talking now, we don't have enough manpower in Amaku here. Especially the professionals and this is a serious deficiencyin health sector. We have a situation where in the lab we have fewer than fifteen medical health scientists, in the pharmacist section you have only eighteen in the teaching hospital, that is no way to what is required and this is a place where people, the citizens of Anambra get their services".

"So with these agitations, we are calling on the governor. We appreciate all he has been doing in Anambra in different areas presently, but we want him to come to our intervention. Our members have mandated us seeking  for issued strike, an automatum that starts from 4th September, 2025 and the associations will have no option but to withdraw our services. We are already feeling the effect it will create on Ndi Anambra, and that is why we are calling for intervention now so it can be averted. We have an atomatum on 6th December 2024, and it expired on 6th January. After which we were called for a meeting at the government house. We were asked to rescind and work with the commissioner of health so the governor can look into it. Unfortunately, eight months down the line, nothing has been worked out. Despite all that have worked out, nothing has been done. Our members are agonising and very unhappy, for those who are patriotic to stay have decided that for us to make sure that the public and government understands the implications of what we are saying and understand it for the betterment of Anambra state. The public should join voices and plead with the governor to prevent this strike from happening.

In the same vein, Dr Ikedi Onah, Deputy General Secretary National Association of Midwives and Nurses, disclosed that there was no seriousness from the state government. "One of them told us that this is Anambra state, and if any of us is not OK with the salary structure, we could go to another state, and it got me shocked. Most people are not only from Anambra, and so there is a need to inform Mr Soludo. Our letters are not replied to after writing many letters. We cannot fold our hands and look. What we are asking for is not strange. There is no state that have not implemented theirs. The governor needs to hear this. We don't want to go on strike, but come on 4th September, if nothing tangible is heard, we have no option but to embark on the purported strike. Our members believe that we the leaders have been settled and this is not a good name for our profession. We are shortchanged than other states. The same level a member in Enugu state recieves in one-month salary can settle three months of his colleague here in Anambra".

Corroborating, Comrade Afam Udozor, Chairman Joint Health Sector Union, COOUTH and Anambra State Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals said the union is of the opinion that the Anambra state governor Professor Charles Soludo should be concerned with the health of ndi Anambra. "We are fully convinced that alot of billions are spent on infrastructure including the new trauma health centre but is unaware of the ways he can help the health workers. He needs to know that those workers who render services to the patient needs to be taken care of, if not these infrastructure will be empty some day. We have been patient, our members want to go on strike and some of us look at us the leaders with suspicion. The meeting we held is not a proper meeting which equally lacks negotiation. We plead with you with the commissioner of health, Dr Obidike to take proper actions on this".

Comrade Udozor equally frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of heads of health professionals in under state government who could not hold negotiations to calm the situation down. While pleading that urgent attention should be given to health workers in the state. 

Reacting, Anambra state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike has reaffirmed that the state is committed to health worker's welfare. 

According to Obidike, "during the State Executive Council meeting held on 18th day of August,2025, Mr. Governor graciously approved the implementation of the Enhanced Entry Point for Nursing Officer Cadre meaning that the entry grade level for Nursing Officers into the State Civil Service will be grade level 10 and it is a great relief for Nursing Officers who have been agitating for this implementation for almost 20years.

Also Performance Based incentives was approved for health workers in the state meaning that after the official salary they will receive another money based on performance.

He maintained that Soludo has embarked on unprecedented investments in health infrastructure, upgrading facilities like the construction of five new general hospitals, Ultra Modern Trauma Centre and expanding access to healthcare for citizens in rural and urban areas alike through telemedicine.

He implemented welfare-enhancing measures, including training, capacity development, and deliberate plans to harmonize salaries in line with prevailing economic realities and sustainable state resources.

The government is not insensitive to the genuine concerns of health workers.

Meanwhile, Dr Obidike assured that Governor Soludo has approved the skipping of CONHESS 10 in the health sector (progression from CONHESS 9 TO 11) where applicable.