By Daruba Farouk | National News
Health workers in Katsina State have issued the state government a 21-day ultimatum to address their welfare and professional demands or face industrial action.
The ultimatum, which took effect on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, was issued by the Assembly of Health Care Professionals in Katsina State following what the workers described as prolonged delays in resolving their grievances.
Speaking with journalists in Katsina on behalf of the Assembly, Chairman of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria in the state, Comrade Ibrahim Balange, said the health professionals would embark on strike if the government failed to meet their demands at the expiration of the ultimatum.
Balange said the decision followed several engagements, meetings and representations made to the state government, which he said had yet to yield significant progress.
Among the major demands is the immediate implementation of 100 per cent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers in the state, in line with what is obtainable in Federal Government-owned health institutions.
The workers are also demanding the skipping of CONHESS 10, as contained in previous government circulars and correspondences submitted to relevant committees in the state.
According to Balange, the health professionals are further demanding an upward review of the hazard allowance to 100 per cent, in line with the allowance applicable in federal health institutions.
Other demands include improved call duty, shift, clinical and non-clinical allowances, as well as upward reviews of rural and specialist allowances.
The Assembly is also demanding an increase in nurses’ uniform allowance to N80,000, consistent with the amount applicable in federal health institutions.
Balange stressed that the demands were not intended to undermine the state government but were aimed at improving the welfare, motivation and productivity of healthcare professionals and strengthening healthcare delivery across Katsina State.
He expressed concern that the prolonged delay in addressing the issues was affecting the morale of health workers, despite their continued commitment to providing healthcare services to residents.
He warned that failure to resolve the grievances within the 21-day ultimatum would leave the workers with no option but to down tools.
However, Balange appealed to the Katsina State Government to use the period provided by the ultimatum to resolve the outstanding issues and avert a disruption of healthcare services across the state.
He expressed optimism that Governor Dikko Umar Radda’s administration would respond positively to the demands in the interest of health workers and residents of Katsina State.
The Assembly comprises the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, and Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria.
