The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has criticised the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the Federal Government over the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), describing it as unnecessary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLC and TUC had given the Federal Government from January 23 to implement the 2021 report of a Technical Committee on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). The labour centres also threatened to mobilise a nationwide strike across both public and private sectors if the demands were not met.
Speaking at a news briefing in Gusau on Monday, NMA National Publicity Secretary, Dr Mannir Bature, said the issuance of public ultimatums on such a sensitive matter was inappropriate, noting that salary structure issues required careful verification, technical understanding and institutional engagement.
He urged the NLC and TUC to exercise restraint and responsibility in their public communications, warning that inaccurate statements could misinform workers and the general public.
Bature also rejected claims by the labour unions that the Federal Government upgraded the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in 2014, describing the assertion as misleading and capable of fuelling industrial tension in the health sector.
According to him, there was no upgrade of CONMESS, but rather a correction of long-standing errors and distortions in its application, which had persisted despite existing approvals and public service guidelines. He said portraying the correction as preferential treatment was inaccurate and risked creating unnecessary inter-professional conflict.
The NMA spokesperson warned that such narratives could deepen discord within the health sector at a time when unity and collaboration were urgently needed to tackle systemic challenges.
He called on the Federal Government to remain focused on the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) process as the lawful and structured avenue for addressing remuneration, welfare and industrial concerns in the sector.
Bature emphasised the need for comprehensive engagement, good-faith negotiations, respect for existing agreements and adherence to clearly defined professional roles, while reaffirming the NMA’s commitment to constructive dialogue, transparency and inter-professional harmony in the interest of healthcare workers and Nigerians at large.