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  • MHWUN mourns, hails Buhari’s legacy of integrity, social welfare, labour reforms

    MHWUN mourns, hails Buhari’s legacy of integrity, social welfare, labour reforms

    The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has described the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari as painful and a great loss to the nation, describing him as a patriot, visionary leader, and statesman of uncommon integrity.

    In a condolence message jointly signed by the union’s National President, Comrade Dr. Kabiru Minjibir, and Secretary General, Comrade Auwalu Yusuf Kiyawa, MHWUN extended its sympathy to the former First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, the entire Buhari family, and the Nigerian people, describing the late president’s passing as “an unimaginable colossal loss.”

    “President Buhari was admired and trusted by many Nigerians who believed in his democratic values and commitment to national service,” the union said.

    “He demonstrated this by refusing to interfere in the 2023 general elections, allowing a free and fair process to determine his successor, an uncommon act of political maturity and patriotism.”

    The statement highlighted Buhari’s concern for the poor and vulnerable, citing his administration’s school feeding programme, social investment schemes, and conditional cash transfers, which were aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

    “His love for young Nigerian children drove the introduction of the school feeding programme, which drastically reduced the number of out-of-school children.

    He also supported poor families through social welfare initiatives and poverty alleviation efforts,” the statement added.

    MHWUN also praised Buhari’s resistance to pressure from international financial institutions to abruptly remove fuel and electricity subsidies, commending his preference for a gradual approach that would protect citizens from hardship.

    “Despite mounting pressure from the World Bank and IMF, he refused to yield to abrupt subsidy removal, insisting on a path that safeguarded the interests of ordinary Nigerians.”

    The union further recalled Buhari’s legacy in agriculture through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which they said boosted food production and rural livelihoods.

    Describing him as a “labour-friendly president,” MHWUN applauded his approval of the N30,000 minimum wage, the extension of retirement age and years of service for teachers, and recent reforms across the civil service, including the health sector.

    Read Also: Muhammadu Buhari: A leader of unwavering conviction, enduring legacy

    On infrastructure, the union listed the construction of the Second Niger Bridge, the revival of the country’s railway system, and the rehabilitation of key expressways such as Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna roads as major milestones of his presidency.

    “His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped Nigeria record relatively low mortality rates compared to other countries, also stands out as a notable achievement,” the statement said.

    Recalling Buhari’s long and distinguished service including as military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State, and two-term civilian president, the union hailed his personal integrity and incorruptibility, saying “not an iota of corruption was ever traced to him.”

    The union prayed for the repose of his soul, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

  • MHWUN demands implementation of CONHESS salary structure for Enugu workers

    MHWUN demands implementation of CONHESS salary structure for Enugu workers

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has called on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to address and consider all the irregularities concerning the payment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) salary structure.

    The CONHESS is a salary scale for healthcare professionals in Nigeria, including nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals.

    The Secretary General of MHWUN, Comrade Auwal Yusuf Kiyawa made the call in an interview with newsmen at the occasion of the National Women Leadership Development Workshop, Southeast Zone held at the Arbovirus and Research Centre in Enugu.

    According to Comrade Kiyawa, “There is utmost need for the governor to consider the payment of CONHESS salary structure to those that have not been paid

    “If you go to other states, i think they have fully implemented and are paying the CONHESS salary structure and I’m very much sure his Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah would not want to be in isolation having been someone who has a reputation of paying salaries as at when due.” Kiyawa stated

    The Secretary General also used the opportunity to thank and appreciate Governor Mbah for giving a positive atmosphere to ensure a peaceful workshop.

    “I think the event of today is very encouraging, motivating, and lovely as it is a part of the policy of our union to always have a national workshop at least twice a year for our women.” Kiyawa stated.

    The National President of the union, Kabiru Ado Sani emphasized the importance of building women’s capacity to thrive in leadership roles just as he acknowledged the challenges faced by women in the workplace, including discrimination, gender-based violence, and the need for re-skilling and up-skilling in response to changing work environments.

    “To address these challenges, the Union is committed to building advocacy around issues of gender equality and equity, social justice, and just transition.” Sani said

    Laying more emphasis on what the Secretary General said, Chairman, MHWUN Enugu State Council, Mrs. Nnenna Juliet Oriedu, stated that two of the three unions that make up the Joint Joint Sector Union and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU) umbrella, only the health workers, the core medical and health workers namely, the porters, partisan, the health attendants are yet to be paid CONHESS

    “The nurses and the medical lab technicians have been paid. We have our members drawn from the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, Ministry of Health, Polly Clinic, most of them are in state management board

    “We have others in the veterinary services in the Ministry of Agriculture. They are all health workers. Till today, we are still expectant

    “We are hoping that the governor in his magnanimity will pay our workers as others received theirs in August last year. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander, ” Oriedu stated.

    On the workshop, themed “Empowered to Lead: Advancing Women Skills in Trade Union Leadership toward Just Transition in Health Sector,” is aimed to build women’s leadership skills and promote their participation in nation-building

    Oriedu also made an appeal to Governor Peter Mbah. “I wish to use this opportunity to specially appeal to our amiable governor, who has demonstrated leadership in massive infrastructural development in Enugu to support the Enugu State Council of the union with a plot of land and bus to enable us build our permanent secretariat render services to our members swiftly.” Oriedu said.

    The workshop is part of the union’s initiative to develop women’s leadership skills, which started in 2008. The event which brought together women leaders from various unions to share experiences and gain skills to excel in leadership positions, also aims to provide a platform for women to develop their leadership skills and contribute to the union’s agenda for gender mainstreaming, which has been ongoing since 2003.

    Read Also: Enugu gets 2025 NAFEST hosting rights

    Meanwhile, the National Chairperson of the Union emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in achieving a just transition in the health sector.

    She called on State Chairmen and union leaders to deepen their commitment to gender inclusion, actively involving women in union activities, leadership development, and decision-making processes.

    She emphasized that women’s participation is critical to achieving a just transition in the health sector and urged participants to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, equity, and dignity for all health workers.

  • Brain drain: MHWUN seeks better welfare for health workers

    Brain drain: MHWUN seeks better welfare for health workers

    The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has called for improved welfare packages to address the ongoing brain drain in the healthcare sector.

    The union noted that the migration of healthcare workers was largely due to poor welfare conditions, including unpaid salary arrears and the lack of necessary adjustments to salary structures.

    MHWUN President, Comrade Kabiru Minjibir made the appeal during the 50th session of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union in Abuja.

    Read Also: Edun commends military’s role in economic recovery

    Minjibir urged the Federal Government to promptly release outstanding eight-month salary arrears for regulatory agency members and address the decaying infrastructure in health facilities across the country.

    He stressed the importance of government collaboration with organised labour to find lasting solutions to the economic hardships facing Nigerians.

    The MHWUN leader also called on the Minister of Health and Social Welfare to eliminate obstacles hindering the realisation of workers’ demands to ensure a more stable and effective healthcare system.

  • Health workers to Buhari: Don’t appoint only doctors as health ministers

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to avoid past mistakes in his appointment of ministers, especially as it concerns the ministry of Health.

    MHWUN urged the president not to appoint only Medical Doctors as Ministers of Health.

    In the current dispensation, the two ministers of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and Dr. Osagie Ehinare are both medical doctors and not until recently, the permanent secretary of the ministry was also a medical doctor.

    Nigerians are looking forward towards appointment of new ministers as the president sets to commence his second term in office on 29th May 2019.

    The first term of the Buhari administration is expected to wind down on 29th May, 2019 and he is expected to dissolve his cabinet latest 24 hours before the end of the current administration.

    The union argued that appointing two ministers from the same segment of the medical profession to head the ministry does not promote healthy working environment.

    MHWUN National President, Com. Biobelemoye Josiah said because of the existence of other professionals, appointment of ministers should be a mix.

    He noted that one can be a medical doctor while the other can be from any of the other professions within the medical sector.

    Besides, Josiah called for the return of the management of health institutions to hospital administrators who have the capacity to manage the institutions.

    He spoke Thursday in Abuja at the 10th National Quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Union.

    Josiah noted that the last four years is the worst for health delivery in the country, saying many factors conspired to cast a very gloomy and dark cloud on the horizon in the Nigerian health care delivery system.

    He therefore warned that as long as the appointment of ministers of health, and other key positions are held by only one profession to the exclusion of other health professionals, there will continue to be disruptions in healthcare delivery.

    He said, “As long as the appointment of ministers of Health, Directors in the ministry of health and the Chief Executives of health institutions remain the birthright of one profession, to the exclusion of other health professionals in the team, turbulence and inefficiency shall continue to thrive as they are not trained for such duties, their discriminatory approach would continue to invite protestations from other members of the health team who are in the majority. As long as government does not make conscious efforts to break this monopoly by the medical doctors, a monopoly that is self-serving, Nigerians would continue to suffer for it.”

    He posited that “As an immediate action to put confidence into Nigerians, the appointment of Ministers in the ministry must not necessarily be to only health professionals in order to halt politics of exclusion that has taken tap roots in the ministry.

    “We believe the appointments of both doctors and other health professionals as ministers, or the mixing of appointments of both doctors and other health professionals as ministers in the Ministry of Health would go a long way in boosting the confidence of the operators/ stakeholders in the ministry.

    MHWUN president also opposed the school of thought that is pushing for privatization of the health care industry.

    While stressing that privatization is not an option, Josiah said that it is the business of the government to provide for security and welfare and wellbeing of its citizenry.

    “If the business of government is to provide for security and

  • JOHESU members in NAFDAC resume work

    Members of the Joint Health Sector Union ( JOHESU ) on Monday resumed work at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ), after the six-week old strike.

    The News men correspondent who visited the headquarters of the agency in Abuja reports that the workers were seen in various offices attending to official duties.

    Some of them told News men that they resumed on Friday immediately after the strike was suspended by the union, while others said that they resumed on Monday, June 4.

    The news men recall that JOHESU declared an indefinite strike on April 17 to press home their demands.
    Members of the union who are nurses, medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, record officers, physiotherapists and others participated in the industrial action.

    Read Also: Drug Abuse: NAFDAC begins awareness

    Mr Izi Isua, the Vice Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), NAFDAC chapter, told the news men that all his members had resumed work in compliance with the directive by JOHESU.

    Isua explained that workers of NAFDAC complied totally with the six-week old strike.

    “I have to commend our members in NAFDAC for their solidarity, loyalty and commitment to the strike, it was 100 per cent compliance,” he said.

    He disclosed that the union used the opportunity of the industrial action to meet with the management of NAFDAC to resolve some internal issues, aside those of JOHESU.

    He said the management had pledged to address the issues as soon as possible.

    NAN

  • Health union rules out industrial action

    Health union rules out industrial action

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) says it will not embark on another strike but will give government enough time to address its demands.

    Chairman of the union, Mr Ibrahim Attai disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    Atai, who was speaking on the called-off strike by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’ workers, said the effects of the strike on the nation were better imagined.

    “We will give government more time to resolve all our grievances, we believe in the government’s ability to this.

    “We cannot afford to go on another strike because last time we went on strike the agency lost substantial amount of revenue.

    “Going on another full strike would give room for unscrupulous people to perpetrate their evil acts, bringing in all manner of adulterated products into the country.

    “NAFDAC workers had been ordered to return to work and be law abiding. Our services are critical to the Nation’s economy and health,’’ he said

    NAN reports that the union had earlier called on their members to return to work on Friday after embarking on seven days warning strike.

  • Health workers urge NMA to end strike

    Health workers urge NMA to end strike

    The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has said the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is enough reason for the striking doctors to call off their strike.

    MHWUN National President, Dr. Ayuba P. Wabba, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said: “The Ebola disease outbreak, having been declared a public health emergency, coupled with the ongoing challenge of terrorist attacks, is enough reason for NMA to call off its strike and join hands with other health professionals to provide the much-needed essential service.”

    Wabara said the Ebola outbreak required that all hands should be on deck s to properly tackle the disease.

    He said: “It is a truism that all hands have to be on deck for the health emergency facing us now to be properly addressed. Primary stakeholders are professionals and workers in the health sector.”

    The union leader urged the Federal Government not to worsen the situation by its action, but to approach the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) for adjudication.

    Wabara said: “In the present circumstance, the government should not allow the lives of Nigerians to be put in jeopardy. The issues at stake should be subjected to adjudication by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in line with global best practices. The NICN was set up to deal with such situation.

    “MHWUN is committed to mobilising its membership to actively rise up to the challenge of combating the spread of this dreaded disease. Steps being taken include training the trainers’ workshops and stepping down the expanded knowledge base and capacity this would generate to all the states and local government areas and the development of necessary information, education and communication materials for a massive awareness campaign.”

    He said: “MHWUN shall do all in its power to consolidate on the good steps being taken by the Federal Government and all well-meaning Nigerians. We call on the NMA to urgently call off its illegal strike and join this national moment of action and solidarity against the EVD.”

  • Unions, commission bicker over biometrics

    Unions, commission bicker over biometrics

    Labour unions in Bayelsa State and the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) are bickering on the ongoing staff biometrics for local government workers.

    The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) said the biometrics cost N250million.

    NULGE President Akpos Ekiagha and MHWUN Chairman Biu Josiah spoke in Yenagoa after an emergency joint meeting of the unions.

    They faulted the use of consultant to prepare the councils’ payrolls, adding that the development had rendered workers in the Account Department redundant.

    The duo said while the local councils were at the receiving end, the consultant smiled to the bank with over N40million monthly.

    The leaders appealed to Governor Seriake Dickson to rescind the contract, alleging that the services of the consultant were fraudulent and a conduit to drain state resources.

    They called for the removal of LGSC Chairman Talford Ongolo over alleged insensitivity to the plight of council workers.

    The duo also accused Ongolo of allegedly running the commission as a “sole administrator in flagrant abuse of the unified LG service rules”.

    They lamented that the chairman posted junior officials to head their seniors, thereby creating bad blood in the system.

    But Ongolo countered the claims, saying the biometric was introduced to ghost workers and truancy inherited by the present administration.

    He said the ongoing workers’ verification became imperative after a probe committee uncovered payroll fraud perpetrated with impunity by most senior employees of the local government system.

    He said before the biometrics was introduced, the commission consulted with NULGE and other stakeholders and agreed on modalities and the need for the exercise.

    Ongolo, who showed documents of the agreements which were jointly signed by the labour leaders, said persons opposing the exercise were beneficiaries of the old system.

    He observed that no reforms had been successfully conducted in any system without oppositions from with the old order.

    The Chairman insisted that the protest and blackmails  would not intimidate the commission from sanitising the local governments.

    Ongolo added that former principal officials of the councils were redeployed to the commission’s headquarters to allow for thorough prosecution of the reforms.

    He added that some junior workers were selected, trained and deployed to take over the positions of the principal officers in acting capacities.

    He said the commission was addressing some of the challenges it identified in the biometric, adding that the verification had impacted positively on the employees’ attitude to work.

  • Health workers begin warning strike today

    Health workers, under the aegis of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), begin a three-day warning strike today.

    Leaders of the umbrella health workers’ union addressed reporters yesterday in Lagos.

    They said the strike aims to paralyse health institutions and related agencies, such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), among others.

    MHWUN’s Chairman for the Federal Area Council, Lagos, Comrade Ibe Nwokenta, said the workers decided on the warning strike following Federal Government’s refusal to implement the agreements it reached with health workers as well as the government’s violation of court judgments in favour of the workers.

    Nwokenta said health workers, under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)/Assembly of Health care Professional Associations, also declared a three-day warning strike from today after a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja last Thursday.

    He said various agreements the unions had with the government were not honoured.

    He said the strike was aimed at “protesting the grave injustice and persistent industrial discrimination against our members” by the government; discriminatory practices against health professionals in the implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in favour of doctors’ Consolidated Salary Structure (CONMESS).

    Others, he said, are continued impunity, arbitrariness and non-implementation of approved schemes of service for union members in hospitals and ministries.

    The union leader also said the health workers were fighting alleged selective and discriminatory increases in wages and allowances of one group in a multi-disciplinary sector without commensurate treatment to other members of the sector.

    Nwokenta said health workers and professionals, such as medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists, information and record officers would join the strike.

    Others supporting the action are: security personnel, gatemen, hospital engineers, hospital technicians, hospital administrators and mortuary attendants, among others.

    He warned that no health institution should render skeletal services while the strike lasted.

    “Sanction awaits any branch and any union leader who allows skeletal services under his jurisdiction will be penalised,” Nwokenta said.

    Lagos State chapter of MHWUN Chairman Omobafemi Daini said government’s wilful stand to favour medical doctors over other health care workers would not help matters in the sector.

    He said health workers and professionals across the country had resolved to join the strike to fight the injustice in the sec