Staffers of the Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, have appealed to the Zamfara Government to address irregularities in the salary structure and N30,000 minimum wage implementation.
They made the plea under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals.
This is contained in a statement jointly issued in Gusau on Saturday by the Chairman and Secretary, JOHESU branch of the hospital, Sani Rabi’u and Aminu Abdullahi, respectively.
It said, “We want to start by appreciating Gov. Dauda Lawal for awarding the contract for the construction, total renovation and equipping the hospital in preparation to upgrade it to a State Teaching Hospital.
“The effort will go a long way in providing standard healthcare services to the teeming citizens of Zamfara and the neighbouring states.
“We also want to appreciate the governor for approving the CONHESS adjustment arising from the 30,000.00 minimum wage.”
The unions, however, observed that the CONHESS adjustment implementation that began in the October 2024 salary was not properly done, which excluded status allowances, among others.
The statement added, “We used to enjoy the gesture since the inception of the hospital.
“We also observed some irregularities in the October and November 2024 salary.
” They included grade level reduction, step reduction, wrong salary scale placement.
“These irregularities led to a remarkable reduction of the salary of the majority of our members instead of increment.”
The unions lamented that the action had caused many experienced staffers to resign from the hospital.
“Several complaints were made to the appropriate authorities through writing, visitations and meetings with the assurance to correct the anomalies in November 2024 salary.
”However, to our dismay, the complaints were not resolved,” the statement further said.
The unions also expressed the belief that Lawal was not aware of the irregularities taking place in the only state tertiary health centre.
The statement said, “In view of the above, we are requesting Gov. Dauda Lawal to direct the proper implementation of our allowances.
“They include call duty and hazard allowances arising from CONHESS adjustment on the 30,000.00 minimum wage in the facility based on the report of the state Commissioner of Health Committee.
“There is the need to revive the autonomy of the hospital and immediate formation of its governing board.
“We are also requesting the correction of salary structure to some staffers of the hospital from HARPS to CONHESS grade levels and steps.”
According to it, the unions are also demanding the payment of six months arrears, from June – November, 2024, from the adjusted CONHESS.
The statement added, “We are also calling for the implementation of all our pending promotions.
“We hope the Governor will look into our problems and address our issues in the December 2024 salary in order to avoid industrial action.”
NAN
