•Governor Charles Soludo
Health professionals under the umbrella of the Organised Health Sector Unions in Anambra State have issued a passionate appeal to Governor Charles Soludo to urgently implement the 100% Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), warning that failure to do so may trigger fresh industrial action.
Speaking at a press briefing in Nnewi yesterday, the group’s spokesperson and Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Anambra State chapter, Comrade Charles Nwoye, decried the longstanding partial implementation of the salary structure since its approval by the federal government in 2010.
Nwoye, who also serves as the Deputy National President of NUAHP (Southern Region), said Anambra health workers have endured over a decade of injustice in salary payment, reports Daily Independent.
He recalled that only partial implementation was attempted under previous administrations, with Governor Peter Obi’s government implementing just 50%, and Governor Willie Obiano’s government excluding many allied health professionals from full benefits.
“Medical doctors enjoy 100% of their CONMESS. But for us, only 50% to 90% of CONHESS has been implemented in various sectors—90% at COOUTH in Awka due to our agitation. We’ve waited long enough,” he said.
The union noted that Governor Soludo, popularly known as “Oluatuegwu”— a nickname symbolising his proactive leadership style —has made impactful contributions in the health sector, including free antenatal care, cesarean sections, and other surgeries.
However, Nwoye stressed that such legacies are incomplete without adequately motivating the human workforce driving the system.
“Anambra cannot become the Dubai of Africa without fully carrying along its health sector. Human resources are central to any successful system,” he stated.
According to him, poor remuneration has led to an exodus of health professionals from Anambra to neighbouring states such as Enugu and Delta, contributing to what he described as a domestic ‘japa’ syndrome.
“Lab scientists, pharmacists, nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists, and other professionals are leaving Anambra. It’s no longer just foreign migration; it’s interstate brain drain now,” he warned.
He emphasised that even the current CONHESS being demanded is already outdated at the federal level, with ongoing agitation for further upgrades. Yet, Anambra is still struggling to implement the original structure.
The union urged Governor Soludo to take decisive action, noting that previous ultimatums and negotiations with state officials had delayed industrial action out of respect for the government’s plea for patience.
“We’ve played our part. The ball is now in the Governor’s court. A swift approval and implementation of 100% CONHESS will not only uplift the morale of health workers but also sustain Anambra’s reputation as a leader in healthcare delivery,” Nwoye concluded.
