Nigeria Union of Allied Health Porfessionals

Workers in Nigeria have continuously lamented their poor conditions of service and poor welfare. In this interview, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals(NUAHP), Oyo state council, Comrade Oladayo Olabampe insists that his union has similar challenges. Excerpts :

How has been in journey so far, as regards addressing issues of leadership in your union?

God has being helping us. And members of the union have been cooperative with the help of God we have had a smooth journey. Although it has not been easy, we have tried our bets. God has helped us in most of the issues while we are still discussing some others, the Government is giving attention to a number of the issues and some are still undergoing some struggle.

What are the highlights of your achievements?

The major achievements start with the fact that we have a listening Governor, and we also interact with organs of the Government. When we have issues they listen to us, when we have some issues the state Government listens to us. Committees have sat and the outcome of their sittings are recommendations awaiting favorable implementations. There is the issue of teaching allowances, for years my members have been denied teaching allowances. These allowances are given to staff who are not employed to teach, but find themselves teaching. To teaching allowances are given to them as compensation. For some time now the Government has denied them the teaching allowances. In addition, the Government shall implement the CONHESS (Consolidated Health Salary Structure)salary scale for health professionals, this is the equivalent used for physicists, CONMESS(. We have made a case for the consequential adjustment of CONHESS(Consolidated Health Salary Structure for our members. This has also received attention, and it is awaiting implementation. When we mounted the saddle we commenced the compilation of data of health professionals who are gainfully employed. The result is the acute shortage of health professionals. Although the Government has employed some health professionals, there is an improvement, we are still expecting more.

What about the challenges confronting your union? Our challenges are not different from other unions.

Our number one challenge is that the Government always complains of lack of funds. We have made a strong case for our members regarding welfare. A major challenge is the mass exodus of our members to foreign countries to seek greener pastures. The exodus has created a lot of vacancies at both the State, Federal and Local Governments. The rate of exodus is not in tandem with the rate of recruitment. This has resulted in the shortage of health professional in the health sector. The brain drain has also not helped matters. However, we want our members to practice in their fatherland, but we hope the Government at all levels shall create an enabling environment.