Nurses across Nigeria are pressing state governors for a significant salary boost, calling for a 25% upward review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and hazard allowance. The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) conveyed this appeal following their two-day National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
In a statement released on Sunday, the association emphasized the urgency of implementing the revised salary structure to retain healthcare professionals within the country and ensure quality healthcare services for the people. President of the association, Michael Nnachi, stressed the importance of this move, stating, “The NEC, therefore, appealed to the federal government to urgently look at these issues to forestall industrial disharmony.”
The call for salary increment follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the CONHESS review in July 2023, aimed at curbing brain drain and promoting industrial harmony within the healthcare sector. CONHESS serves as the salary framework for various health workers in the Federal Public Service, including nurses, pharmacists, and medical laboratory personnel.
Moreover, NANNM urged state governments to swiftly implement the revised call duty allowance and expedite actions in the implementation of CONHESS to encourage nurses to remain in the country and continue delivering essential healthcare services.
Additionally, the association applauded the federal government’s initiative to engage health fellows in primary health centers across the 774 local government areas of the country. However, they emphasized the importance of including nurses and midwives in the program, considering their pivotal role as primary healthcare providers.
Furthermore, NANNM called upon states and local governments that have yet to implement 100% CONHESS to do so promptly, addressing concerns regarding the depletion of specialized nurses in health facilities nationwide.
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During the NEC meeting, NANNM also conducted training for over 300 key members of the association, including chairpersons and secretaries from all branches across the country, in an Automated Management System. Nnachi highlighted the significance of this training, stating, “The training is for members of the National Executive Council drawn from the chairmen and the secretaries of the 36 states and the FCT.”
He further explained, “We expect that the training will equally put in place reliable data concerning the numerical strength of nurses in Nigeria.” This data, Nnachi emphasized, would not only benefit the association but also aid the government in effective planning and resource allocation for the healthcare sector.
With the implementation of these measures, NANNM aims to address the challenges facing nurses and midwives in Nigeria while ensuring the provision of quality healthcare services to the nation’s citizens.
