From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka
Health professionals and workers in the employ of the Anambra State government and the local government areas of the state, under the aegis of Anambra State Organized Health Sector Unions (ANSOHSU), has suspended its strike action earlier billed to commence on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The health professionals issued a third 15-day ultimatum to the state government on the 19th of August, 2025, which expired on the midnight of Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
The health professionals were demanding from the state government, among other things, the implementation of their Consolidated Health Salary Structure, as approved by the federal government since 2010; which, according to them, have been fully implemented in other states, including the five south eastern states.
But in a statement tiled: “Resolutions To Suspend Industrial Action,” and signed by the trio of Dr. Ikedi Onah, Secretary, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives; Comrade Ugwu Matthew Nnabugwu, Secretary, Medical and Health Workers Union; and Comrade Afam Kanayo Udeozo, Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, which was addressed to Governor Charles Soludo, the medical workers explained why they opted to withdraw their industrial action, and what they intend to do should the state default in their promise.
The resolution reads in part, “At a meeting convened by the Honourable Commissioner of Health in his office which had in attendance the Hon. Commissioners of Health and Information, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, and some executive of the ministry of health and leaders of the state Joint Health Sector Unions, the Commissioner of Health appealed to the workers’ representatives to rescind the proposed industrial action billed to start at the expiration of the ultimatum.
“He reassured that just as he secured two of the demands of the workers namely skipping of CONHESS 10 and Enhanced Entry Point for nurses in less than two weeks, that he should be given the benefits of the doubt to achieve within four weeks, counting from Monday, September 1, 2025, the approval of Consolidated Health Salary Structure and the rest of the demands of the health professionals and workers.”
The group said that the propositions would have been rejected, but for the appeal of other well meaning Anambrarians in the likes of leaders of the two labour centers – the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
It warned, however, that after the four weeks grace ending on 29th September, 2025, the unions would have no other choice than to reorder their priorities to resume the suspended strike without any further recourse to the state government; saying that the health workers have exhausted all protocols, patience and diligence in the labour relationship with the state government.
