By: Felix Ikpotor
Primary Healthcare Workers in Rivers State on local council’s payroll have staged a protest in Port Harcourt, calling on the governor, Siminalayi Fubara to direct council chairmen to pay the backlog of promotion arrears owed them.
The workers who protested under the aegis of Primary Healthcare Workers Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, appreciated Governor Siminalayi Fubara for directing their promotions after several years of stagnancy.
They however, lamented that despite the directive, the council chairmen has sparingly effected the promotion in the salaries of the primary healthcare workers.
Speaking through their leader, Mrs Jane Ichebadu Dike, the workers alleged that they are being owed nine months salary arrears by the respective councils, adding that the situation has brought untold hardship on the workers.
The primary health care workers also demanded the payment of their salaries inline with the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and the transfer of their payments from LGAs to the Primary Healthcare Management Board.
The workers also lamented the shortage of manpower at the primary health care centres while appealing for the full engagement of their members that have been on contract for several years.
Mrs Dike while reading a protest letter onbehalf of the group said: “The promotions have suffered haphazard implementation to the grave detriment of Primary Health Care Workers paid by Councils.
” Wrong and unknown salary structure has been used in paying us without recourse to the approved Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) applicable to the Public Service in Rivers State. It will surprise you to note that Rivers State is the only state wherein Primary Health Salaries at the Local Government level are paid at random. This has caused disparity in our salaries for a very long time. As we speak, there are no two local government that pay uniform salaries to health workers,” she said.
The workers further prayed the Governor Fubara to take necessary steps in safeguarding the primary healthcare system in the state.
“His Excellency should direct Local Government Authorities in Rivers State to pay Primary Health Care Workers Salaries in their LGAs with the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) approved by the Rivers State Government and as applicable in the State Public Service to cure these unwarranted salary disparities and our anguish in the service.
“Direct all the 23 Local Government Authorities in Rivers State to immediately pay us our nine months owed promotion arrears and implementation of grade level 06 Primary Health Care Workers and payment of the arrears without further delay,” Dike stated.
Receiving the workers onbehalf of the governor, Dr Adaeze Oreh, the State Commissioner for Health, assured the workers that the government is committed to improving their welfare.
She noted that the welfare of the service providers across health sectors in the communities is paramount to the present administration, adding that every concern as expressed by the LGA health workers especially their remuneration and allowances will be given due attention and consideration.
‘’ As people oriented leader, I assure you that dividends of good governance will get across to every one of you in the health sector, the challenges faced as LGA healthcare workers will be attended to promptly.
“I assure you that every item listed here shall be discussed with him and I assure you further that our people-loving governor will do what is necessary to alleviate your pains and make you feel fulfilled as you’re delivering services,” she said.
Oreh, further commended the efforts of the workers in ensuring that quality healthcare delivery are rendered to the people at the grassroots, saying it is inline with the administration’s Health4AllRivers vision.
