Tension Rocks NHIA as Staff Plan Protest Over Poor Welfare
By Roseline Okafor, Nasarawa.
Staff of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) are planning a nationwide protest to bring attention to their grievances over poor salaries and neglect of their welfare.
The tension is palpable as staff nationwide gear up to take their protest to the presidency.
According to sources, who pleaded anonymity, the last NHIA salary review was in 2014, over 11 years ago, despite the harsh economic situation and recent reviews of the national minimum wage in 2019 and 2024,
The source added NHIA salaries have remained stagnant, Staff are struggling to meet basic needs such as balanced diets, children’s school fees, and house rent.
“We can’t provide quality healthcare when we’re not living healthy lives,” one source lamented.
“How do you expect us to deliver quality services when our salaries are not enough to sustain us?” Staff are seeking presidential intervention, citing failed attempts by supervisory authorities to address their concerns.
A communiqué from the NHIA Joint Union, received by our correspondent sighted recently, reassured staff that their salary review is being worked on.
However, staff have lost trust due to incessant delays. A 100% salary review recommendation submitted in December 2024 has yielded no concrete results, with staff receiving only verbal promises that the review is in progress.
It will be recalled that Tension escalated in June when the union declared a nationwide strike and was called off on the eve of its commencement when the Minister of Labour and Productivity took over negotiations.
“Initially, staff were enthusiastic about the takeover, receiving regular updates on progress made”.
However, the staff became apprehensive and disappointed due to the recent silence on the matter for roughly two months.
It was gathered that Staff are now resolved to take their protest to the presidency, seeking intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It remains unclear whether the authorities concerned will take necessary actions to avert the looming nationwide protest.
The Nigerian health sector has been grappling with manpower shortages, with many health workers seeking greener pastures abroad. The present government has promised to revamp the sector through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The prolonged neglect of NHIA staff welfare has raised concerns about the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria. With many health workers struggling to make ends meet, the motivation and morale of healthcare professionals are at an all-time low.
This could have far-reaching consequences for the healthcare sector, particularly in underserved communities.
Despite the challenges, NHIA staff remain resolute in their determination to seek justice.
“We are not asking for favours, but for a fair and living wage,” one staff member at the NHIA headquarters in Abuja said. “We are willing to work with the Management to find a solution, but we will not be silenced or intimidated.”
The staff’s resolve to take their protest to the presidency is a testament of our determination to have our voices heard.
The magement’s response to the looming protest remains to be seen. While the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative promises to revamp the healthcare sector, it is unclear whether this will address the specific concerns of NHIA staff.
As the protest draws near, all eyes will be on the Management to see how they respond to the staff’s demands. Will they take concrete actions to address the staff’s grievances, or will the protest push the NHIA further into crisis? Only time will tell.
Even though, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is currently implementing various reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system. Some of these initiatives include expanding Coverage, NHIA aims to enroll more Nigerians in health insurance programs, particularly vulnerable populations.
Enhancing Quality: The authority ensures healthcare providers deliver quality services through strict accreditation and monitoring.
Improving Efficiency: NHIA has introduced digital platforms to streamline claims processing and reduce delays.
However, it appears that not all stakeholders are satisfied, with staff planning protests over welfare concerns.
