Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), has urged the Enugu State Government to address irregularities in the payment of Consolidated Health Salary Structures (CONHESS), to health workers in the state.
The Secretary General of the union, Comrade Auwal Kiyawa made the appeal during a National Women Leadership Development Workshop in Enugu, saying that many states across the country have fully implemented the CONHESS salary structure.
Kiyawa expressed confidence that the Enugu State g
Governor, Peter Mbah, would not want his state to be isolated from other states that have implemented the CONHESS salary structure.
The union leader thanked the Enugu State Government for providing a conducive environment for the workshop, describing the event as encouraging, motivating, and lovely.
The workshop with the theme: “Empowered to Lead: Advancing Women Skills in Trade Union Leadership toward Just Transition in Health Sector,” was aimed at building women’s leadership skills and promoting their participation in nation-building.
Also Speaking, the National President of MHWUN, Kabiru Sani, highlighted the importance of building women’s capacity to thrive in leadership roles.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by women in the workplace, including discrimination and gender-based violence.
“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.
On her part, Mrs. Nnenna Oriedu, Chairman of MHWUN Enugu State Council, said that while other unions under the JOHESU umbrella have been paid their CONHESS salary structure, core medical and health workers, including porters and health attendants, are yet to receive theirs.
“We have our members drawn from the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, Ministry of Health, Poly 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,” Oriedu stated.
“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 also requested Governor Mbah supports the Enugu State Council with a plot of land and a bus to build a permanent secretariat.
