Health Ministry Faces Backlash From JOHESU Over Consultant Pharmacist Cadre Issues

Threatens Action Over Non-Compliance In Federal Health Institutions

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on Mon­day, expressed serious concerns regarding what it termed ‘deliberate sabotage’ and ‘ongoing threats’ to the full imple­mentation of the Consultant Phar­macist Cadre within Federal Health Institutions (FHIs).

The union specifically highlight­ed issues occurring in Lagos State, urging the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to address these challenges promptly to ensure the effective integration of this crit­ical role in the healthcare system.

In a formal petition to the Minis­ter of Health, JOHESU condemned the continued resistance by some medical stakeholders, particularly the Lagos State Branch of the Nige­rian Medical Association (NMA).

JOHESU alleged that NMA publicly rejected the appointment of Consultant Pharmacists and al­legedly issued ultimatums to Chief Executive Officers of Federal Health Institutions.

The petition partly reads, “We are deeply concerned that despite clear government circulars and resolu­tions reached at high-level concilia­tory meetings, there is still a visible attempt to frustrate the implemen­tation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre,” Comrade Martin Egbanubi, a senior JOHESU official said.

JOHESU also cautioned that con­tinued threats and violations would not be tolerated.

“If necessary steps are not taken within the next few weeks, JOHESU will have no option but to activate appropriate measures to enforce compliance,” the union said.

JOHESU reminded the Federal Government that the Consultant Pharmacist Circular was one of the key items in the Memorandum of Un­derstanding, MoU, signed at the tri­partite conciliation meeting held on October 29, 2024, at the Federal Minis­try of Labour and Employment.

According to Item 2 of the resolu­tion from a follow-up meeting held on December 20, 2024, the Federal Min­istry of Health & Social Welfare was tasked to invoke sanctions against noncompliant Federal Health Insti­tutions after March 31, 2025.

“It is shocking that, despite this clear directive, some CMDs and MDs are still dragging their feet, and worse, facing intimidation from professional associations,” the union stated.

JOHESU specifically condemned a press release by the Lagos NMA, which reportedly demanded an im­mediate reversal of the Consultant Pharmacist appointments in La­gos-based FHIs, threatening indus­trial action against CEOs who refuse to comply.

JOHESU called for immediate ac­tivation of sanctions against all Fed­eral Health Institutions found to be noncompliant with the circular and warned of escalated action should the Ministry fail to act within weeks.

The statement also reads, “Recall Honourable Minister that, one of the key item on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Federal Government and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) at the conciliation meet­ing held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on October 29, 2024 was the implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant Circular and directives to the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Direc­tors (MDs) See Item 2 of Annexure I).

“Infact the Resolution of the Conciliation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employ­ment held on 20th December, 2024 specifically prescribed in item 2 that the Federal Ministry of Health & So­cial Welfare shall invoke sanctions on noncompliant FHS after March, 31, 2025 in order to enforce the im­plementation of the circular and di­rectives on Consultant Pharmacists

“In view of the above background sir, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) expresses concern over the slow paced in the implementa­tion and threats against the imple­mentation especially from the Lagos State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

“JOHESU is particularly worried about the recent press release by the Lagos State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) reject­ing the appointment of Consultant Pharmacists and giving ultimatum to Chief Executive Officers of Feder­al Health Institutions in Lagos State who had implemented the Circular and directives to immediately re­verse the appointment or not indus­trial action.

“Immediate activation of item 2 of the Resolution of the Conciliation meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment held on 20th December, 2024 which specially prescribed that, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare shall invoke sanctions on non-compliant Federal Health Institutions (FHs) af­ter March, 31, 2025 in order to enforce the implementation of the circular and directives on Consultant Phar­macists.

“The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) warns that, if necessary steps are not taken by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Wel­fare to address this prayer within the next few weeks, JOHESU shall be left with no option than to activate means of ensuring compliance

“We respectfully urge the Federal Ministry of Health to act decisive­ly. Failure to implement sanctions will only embolden those resisting change,” the union warned.

They also reaffirmed their com­mitment to defending the rights of all health professionals under the JOHESU coalition, which includes: Medical & Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Senior Staff As­sociation of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRI­AI), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, Non-Aca­demic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

The Union reminded the govern­ment about lingering unfulfilled demands on the healthcare Welfare.

The statement reads, ” Imple­mentation of Consultant Cadre for Pharmacists in Federal Health In­stitutions

Although the National Council on Establishment (NCE) has ap­proved the creation of this cadre and CMDs/MDs have been direct­ed to commence the appointment of Consultant Pharmacists, how­ever, it was revealed that out of 73 Federal Health Institutions, only7 Institutions have complied with the directive.

It was thus resolved that the Honorabłe Minister of Health and Social Welfare should write a strong­ly worded letter to the CMDs/MDs who have not complied to enforce the directives in line with the circular.

Upward Review of Retirement Age from 60-65 years for Health

Workers and 70 years for Consul­tants.

It was agreed that the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Wel­fare should put more pressure by re-presenting the issue to the Presi­dent through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as a matter of Na­tional interest and as a strategy to address the problem of brain drain in the Health Sector before the end of the year 2024.

Payment of JOHESU member’s outstanding salaries in Health

Professional Regulatory Council/Agen­cies.

JOHESU demanded the imme­diate payment of the salaries and allowances of the staff of Regula­tory Agencies and the immedıate restoration of the funding of the Environmental Health Regulatory

Council. Parties agreed that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Em­ployment should do a letter to Fed­eral Ministry of Finance to release funds for the payment to cover all the 14 Regulatory Agencies.

Payment of Arrears of CONHESS Review

Although JOHESU demanded the immediate payment of 25 percent of CONHESS review arrears (June-De­cember, 2023), it was resolved that Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment should write a letter to the Federal Ministry of Finance to release funds for the immediate payment of the arrears of CON­HESS review.

Tax waiver on Healthcare Workers Allowances

It was agreed that discussion on this be stepped down for now to al­lowfurther consultations.

Immediate payment of Covid-19 induce­ment Hazard allowance

Whereas JOHESU claimed that no visible action was taken to real­ize the payment of this allowance, FMoH reported that the names of those yet to be paid had been collated and forwarded to the Budget Office of the Federation.

It was agreed that the Federal Ministry of Health re-present the list of unpaid COVID-19 inducement allowance for their payment to the PPIS through the Accountant Gen­eral of the Federation.

The next is the immediate sus­pension of planned establishment and activities of National Health Fa­cility Regulatory Agency (NHFRA), as being promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health.

JOHESU insisted that the creation of the Agency should be put on hold because it negates the provisions of the National Health Act 2014 and the 1999 Constitution. It was resolved that the Federal Ministry of Health should put on hold further activities pending the reconstitution of the Committee on NHFRA to reflect the multidisci­plinary nature of the Health Sector.