Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) members at the meeting in Calabar
Varsities, teaching hospitals’ professionals urge FG to tackle brain drain, poor welfare of health workers
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to remedy the high incidence of brain drain and deteriorating state of public health Institutions in the country.
The association disclosed this in a seven-point communiqué issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Calabar.
Comrade Kabir Mustapha, the acting sector chairman, as well as, Comrade Joseph Ugwoke, the acting sector secretary, signed the communiqué on behalf of the association.
SSAUTHRIAI noted with dismay the rate at which health workers especially professionals are migrating out of the country for greener pastures.
“Most of our health Institutions are deteriorating, conditions surrounding work place activities are not suitable and there are no adequate consumables for health workers.
“Council urges the federal government to as a matter of urgency implement the 30tb September 2017 agreement on adjustment of the CONHESS salary structure which it agreed to implement to the letter within five weeks of signing the agreement about five years ago.
“Council observes with displeasure that some Institutions still owe their staff promotion arrears from the year 2014 till date”, the communiqué read.
Other demands made by the Council include payment of COVID-19 special inducement allowance, remittance of third party deductions as well as payment of the new hazard allowance to health workers.
They also called on the government to arrest denigrating security situations in the country to improve the quality of lives of average Nigerians before it is too late.
