Health professionals task FG to address economic hardship, insecurity, others

By Matthew Denis Abuja

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has called on the Federal Government to address the untold economic hardship, insecurity, energy crisis among other vices in the country.

This is contained in a communique at the end of first Quarter 2022 National Executive Council meeting of the union made available to Nigerian NewsDirect recently in Abuja.

The Communique was signed by the National President of NUAHP, Comrade Obinna Ogbonna and the General secretary Comr. Martin Egbanubi.

The communique read, “The NEC-in-Session discussed the copious socio-economic and political situations in the country and highlighted insecurity issue, high cost of living as result of inflation and increase in the exchange rate.

“It frowns that despite the position of organised labour on energy, the cost of fuel is still extremely very high, and have eluded the purchasing power of majority of Nigerian workers and masses. The current fuel crisis in the Nation has lasted for so long, thus aggravating the already bad situation of the masses.

“NEC also frowned at the national embarrassment of importation of toxic fuel into the country. The increase in price of cooking gas, kerosene and diesel has also added more burden to an average Nigerian whose daily survival depends on these products.

“NEC observed with dismay the epileptic power supply across the country for over a month now. NEC noted that this situation has imposed more hardship on most Nigerians and has adversely affected many Nigerians whose livelihoods are derived from this source.

“The Session was extremely worried about the shortage and attendant high cost of Jet A1 Aviation fuel which has astronomically led to the increment in airfare and making the safest means of transportation today in Nigeria out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians who move from one place to another for survival.

“On the Electoral Act the NEC-in-Session lauded the National Assembly for the passage of the amended Electoral Bill and President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Bill into law, NEC noted that a country’s electoral law determines the validity and reliability of the electoral process and the quality of leaders that emerge through the process. NEC however observed some controversies and litigations associated with certain section of the Act especially Section 84 (12).

“The NEC while lauding the giant strides of the Buhari’s administration in rail and road infrastructures berated in strong terms the bad state of some federal and state roads in some parts of the country and the associated security concern.

“The NEC-in-Session charges government at all levels to intensify efforts in ensuring that other forms of uprising, criminality and other security concerns across the nation are properly addressed, in the best interest of the unity of the nation while calling on workers and all citizens to be vigilant and complement governments effort to fight holistically all forms of insurrections and violent crimes.

The session tasked on National Assembly to “address as quickly as possible the controversial section in the Electoral Act 2022 as amended in order not to erode the gains of the latest amendment.

“It demanded for immediate response by the Federal Government and other levels of government to address all indicators of the present economic hardship in the country and extreme poverty. NEC called on the Federal Government to fulfil her promise on the payment of palliatives to less privileged Nigerians.

“NEC-in-Session urged Federal Government to investigate and bring all those involved in importation of toxic fuel to book while finding a quick and lasting solution to the fuel crisis. More importantly, NEC called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps towards criminal prosecution of those involved in subsidy scam and tackle corruption associated with turn around maintenance of the nations refineries. NEC also demanded immediate overhauling of existing refineries and give conditions to upstream oil and gas players to build refineries.

“On the state of health the NEC-in-Session critically analysed the state of the health sector with respect to welfare of health workers, health infrastructure, management of public health institutions, discriminatory practices and other salient issues on accessibility, affordability and quality of healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.

“On COVID-19, it observed the low corona virus infection rate recorded in recent times and commended the Federal Government on various measures put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic especially on the procurement of vaccines, provision of many molecular laboratories and other equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Lassa Haemorrhagic Fever: NEC-in-Session appraised Lassa fever and other haemorrhagic viral infections whose outbreak has been witnessed in some parts of the country in recent times. NEC however expressed concern over the slow response of government and other relevant stakeholders to contain the spread of this life threatening fever.

“The Session frowned at the Presidential Committee on Health Reform for non-inclusion of Health Sector Unions and other professional associations in the health sector in the committee, most especially the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals in the Presidential Committee on Health Reform, headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo.

“The Union had written to the appropriate quarters without response on the need to redress the skewed composition of the committee where Physicians constitute about 90%. This, NEC viewed will affect the integrity of its report as not representing the true situation of the sector, such exclusion of other critical stakeholders is against the principle of natural justice and will further undermine industrial relations atmosphere in the sector and deepen inter professional rivalry.

“On CONHESS Adjustment the NEC-in-Session observed nostalgia the slow-paced ongoing processes and discussions between Federal Government and Joint Health Sector Unions on CONHESS adjustment. It was further observed that the long delay by the High Level Body Committee set up by Federal Government in concluding the process is causing uneasy situation amongst affected health workers especially members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals.

“The NEC-in-Session was alarmed by the rate health workers especially professionals in the Union are trooping out for greener pasture in other countries. NEC was amazed by the recent findings that 7,000 who are members of the Union had left the shores of Nigeria for another countries in the last few years. NEC after critical situational appraisal, adduced the push mobility factor to poor welfare and working conditions, inadequate state of the art health facilities and other socio-economic conditions in the country.

“On New Hazard Allowance, the NEC-in-Session acknowledged with delight the approval by Federal Government on the payment of a new hazard allowance for health workers in Federal Health Institutions. NEC expressed disappointment that since the circular was issued last year with an effective date of 1st December, 2021, Health Workers are still receiving a paltry sum of N5, 000 as hazard allowance. NEC also observed that most of the Union members and other health workers are increasingly becoming victims of health hazards on daily basis,” the communique noted.

Governments at all levels were, thereafter, urged to employ and train more health personnel at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels as urgent measures to bridge the human resource gap in the public health sector.