By Matthew Denis
The meeting between the Kwara State government and the congress of health workers in the state ended in deadlock on Friday, this medium can report.
The state joint council of Medical and Health workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in collaboration with National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) embarked on a three-day warning strike penultimate week.
The unions gave the state government one week ultimatum to implement the 10 per cent increase on the 50 percent consolidated Health Structure Salary (CONHESS) for members working with the local government.
However, this medium gathered that the three- hour meeting with the health workers, which had in attendance the Permanent Secretary Establishment, who represented the Head of Service and Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Ibrahim Adebayo, among others, ended in a stalemate.
It was further gathered that the congress is awaiting outcome of Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting for November before taking concrete decision on their next move.
Speaking on the development during a chat with our reporter, the state Chairman of the Congress of health workers, Comrade Joseph Adekanye accused the state Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), of being insensitive to plight of the affected workers.
The Chairman accused the Kwara branch of ALGON of showing lackadaisical attitude.
He said: “From information gathered from different quarters, ALGON as a whole is not interested in the payment of the 10 per cent but interested in initiating projects in the various councils.
On the meeting he said: “We discussed on the issue concerning the 10 per cent increment on CONHESS for workers at the council level and the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission made us to understand the effort she has taken in ensuring implementation of the increment.
“But, we were not happy because this is the fifth month since the state government started the implementation for state health workers without carrying those at the local government along.
“And we felt that we have exercised enough patience, we have waited for the commission to put resources together in ensuring that it will not be a subject of discussion at this time. Because I want to state that the local government workers as a whole, are victims of negative circumstances.
” It is in local government that you will get backlog of salary arrears, gratuity long forgotten, promotion without financial backup, unpaid pensions among other problems.
“I believe it is the prerogative responsibility of the state Governor to find lasting solution to the financial problems at both the local and state government levels. Such should not be left for JAAC.
” It is in the light of this that I want to call on the executive Governor to implement the 10 per cent CONHESS increment so that health workers in the local government can have a sense of belonging, and not demoralised in order to be highly productive for the benefit of Kwarans.
Adekanye said that they are looking forward to the outcome of JAAC for the month of November to take definite action on the development.
“l want to believe that Governor Ahmed will ensure that our case is settled if not, we’ll reconvene and take action,” he added.
Meanwhile, several calls put through the mobile phone of the ALGON Chairman, Kwara chapter, Comrade Joshua Omokanye were not picked at the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed on Labour Matters, Sir. Bisi Fakayode said he was not in the meeting. He promised to get back to our reporter on the issue and his response await to no avail till this report was filed yesterday.
