The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has called on Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to urgently address outstanding issues surrounding the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers in the state.
Comrade Auwal Yusuf Kiyawa, Secretary General of MHWUN, made the appeal while speaking to journalists during the National Women Leadership Development Workshop for the South East Zone, held at the Arbovirus and Research Centre in Enugu.
He noted that other states have fully implemented the CONHESS structure and expressed confidence that Governor Mbah, known for prompt salary payments, would not want Enugu to remain an exception.
While appreciating the governor for creating a conducive environment for the workshop, Kiyawa described the event as inspiring and aligned with the union’s policy to hold national workshops for women at least twice annually.
Also addressing participants, MHWUN National President, Comrade Kabiru Ado Sani, highlighted the importance of empowering women to assume leadership roles. He acknowledged the challenges they face in the workplace, such as gender discrimination, violence, and the need to adapt to evolving job demands through re-skilling.
Echoing the concerns raised by the Secretary General, Mrs. Nnenna Juliet Oriedu, Chairman of the MHWUN Enugu State Council, pointed out that within the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) framework, only members of MHWUN in Enugu State—such as porters, partisans, and health attendants—have not received CONHESS salaries, even though the other two unions under JOHESU have been paid.
She urged the state government to correct this disparity and ensure that all categories of health workers are treated equitably.