Health workers across the 16 local government areas of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, have started receiving monthly salaries in line with the 100 percent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State, confirmed the implementation of CONHESS for local government health workers. He stated that health workers in the state were pleased to receive salaries commensurate with the agreed structure.
He said, “Health workers, whose bank account have been credited for January salaries, were excited to receive the pay.
“The state government also directed payment of hazard allowance to all categories of local government health workers.
“The approval of CONHESS and hazard allowance to workers at third tier of government was part of the ongoing organised labour’s negotiation with the state government over the latter’s catalogue of demands for the workforce,” he added.
As part of the ongoing negotiations, the state government has also agreed to settle arrears of salary for local government workers and teachers under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The arrears payments, ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent, are set to commence in January 2024.
The state government has also addressed the issue of arrears in promotions for workers in the state, with letters to be released to affected workers, followed by the disbursement of financial benefits.
This development comes after organised labour in the state issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government to address various demands, including the implementation of the N35,000 wage award, domestication and implementation of a 40 percent peculiar allowance, and the implementation of CONHESS and hazard allowance for health workers, among other issues.