Health Professionals in Anambra Call Off Strike

 

From Mokwugwo Solomon

Health professionals employed by the Anambra State government and local government areas, under the banner of the Anambra State Organized Health Sector Unions (ANSOHSU), have officially suspended their planned strike action that was set to begin on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

The decision comes on the heels of a third 15-day ultimatum issued to the state government on August 19, which expired at midnight on September 3. Key demands from these health professionals include the urgent implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, which has been approved by the federal government since 2010 and is fully operational in several other states, including all five in the southeast.

But in a statement tiled: "Resolutions To Suspend Industrial Action," and signed by the trio of Dr. Ikedi Onah, Secretary, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; Comrade Ugwu Matthew Nnabugwu, Secretary, Medical and Health Workers Union; and Comrade Afam Kanayo Udeozo, Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, which was addressed to Governor Charles Soludo, the medical workers explained why they opted to withdraw their industrial action, and what they intend to do should the state default in their promise. 

The resolution reads in part, "At a meeting convened by the Honourable Commissioner of Health in his office which had in attendance the Hon. Commissioners of Health and Information, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, and some executive of the ministry of health and leaders of the state Joint Health Sector Unions, the Commissioner of Health appealed to the workers' representatives to rescind the proposed industrial action billed to start at the expiration of the ultimatum. 

"He reassured that just as he secured two of the demands of the workers namely skipping of CONHESS 10 and Enhanced Entry Point for nurses in less than two weeks, that he should be given the benefits of the doubt to achieve within four weeks, counting from Monday, September 1, 2025, the approval of Consolidated Health Salary Structure and the rest of the demands of the health professionals and workers."

The group said that the propositions would have been rejected, but for the appeal of other well meaning Anambrarians in the likes of leaders of the two labour centers - the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

It warned, however, that after the four weeks grace ending on 29th September, 2025,  the unions would have no other choice than to reorder their priorities to resume the suspended strike without any further recourse to the state government; saying that the health workers have exhausted all protocols, patience and diligence in the labour relationship with the state government.