JOHESU Kick Against Discriminating Hazard Allowance

Health workers in the country under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have kicked against discriminatory stratification of hazard allowance for health workers in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josiah, the bodies insisted that a flat pay template for hazard remuneration across board be maintained and should be the basis for the proposed upward review of hazard allowance by the federal government.

According to him, JOHESU and AHPA hinged their submissions on the 2014 report of the Collective Bargaining Committee which reviewed the 2009 CBA between the FG and JOHESU.

“We agreed that if the CONMESS Salary that was adjusted recently created a disparity between the CONMESS and CONHESS Salary Structure, the CONHESS should also be adjusted to reflect the adjustment made to the CONMESS Salary.
“This remains the basis for agitation for the adjustment of CONHESS as was done with CONMESS since 2014.

“The over two-decade Hazard Allowance template of flat pay for hazard across board be maintained and should be the basis for the proposed upward review of hazard allowance by the Federal Government. The format prescribed by the Federal Ministry of Health at the inception of the FG-Stakeholders dialogue is most apt in this circumstance.

“In 2017, the incumbent administration reinforced this with a September 30 Terms of Agreement between it and JOHESU. Strategically, the 2009 CBA prescribed N60,000 per annum for Hazard Allowance for both the CONHESS and CONMESS scale which implies that a distortion on either scale without commensurate adjustment on the other scale amounts to a violation of the 2014 report which reviewed the 2009 CBA with the FG,” they insisted.

Josiah submitted that the use of the term “Clinical and Non-Clinical Staff” for persons in a common workplace was offensive and engendered discrimination in the health workplace.

He said that JOHESU/AHPA had always maintained that there was a basic humanity that was shared by all Health workers which makes them all vulnerable to the same general risk factors and hazards.

According to him, the existing treaties of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) were very instructive in this instance and scenario because Nigeria was bound as a signatory to the various treaties.

He explained that the ILO Convention III – Non-Discriminatory Convention Article 1(1) (b) and Article 2 were very instructive in the modulation of Hazard Allowance for Health Workers.

‘’Article 1(1)(b) states to wit: “For the purpose of this Convention, the term discrimination includes such other distinction, exclusion or preference which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation as may be determined by the Member concerned after consultation with representative employers’ and workers’ organisations, where such exist and with other appropriate bodies. Article 2: “Each member for which this Convention is to declare and pursue a national policy designed to promote, by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation, with a view to eliminating any discrimination in respect thereof.”

He further said that, “The discrimination against JOHESU members in this regards borders on social origin because of the psychological atrophy inflicted on them in their occupation and employment in the work place.

“JOHESU therefore, rejects the stratification of Hazard Allowance according to Clinical and Non-Clinical Staff, insisting that. The term ‘Clinical and Non-Clinical Staff’ is an arbitrary terminology alien to the lexicons and statutes in the Nigerian public services and should not be used for the purposes of ranking or categorisation of Nigeria workers including those in the health sector.

‘’No Medical and health worker in the public service has a contract with such dichotomous classification or designation in their letter of appointment. According to extant schemes of service, rules and statutes in the Nigerian Public service, workers are distinctively classified into ranks (Grade levels) and pay using approved salary structures.”