The unions include the Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, and the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria.
The notice, addressed to the State Head of Service, followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the Katsina State government on August 11.
He said that the assembly’s members unanimously resolved to begin the warning strike at 12 midnight on Tuesday, September 8.
According to him, the unions will proceed on an indefinite strike if the government fails to address their demands at the expiration of the seven-day warning action.
“For the avoidance of doubt, over the years that we have been on this struggle, the state government has never demonstrated any form of seriousness on our long overdue legitimate demands, despite admitting the justification of our cries,” he said.
Balange appealed to members of the public to understand the situation and hold the government responsible for inconveniences that might arise from the industrial action.
He said that the assembly had exhausted all available avenues for an amicable resolution of the issues.
The health workers are demanding the immediate implementation of long-standing issues on welfare and professional entitlements, including implementation of 100 percent CONHESS, skipping of CONHESS 10 in line with existing circulars, and an upward review of the 10 percent hazard allowance.
Other demands are the upward review of call duty, shift duty, clinical and non-clinical, rural and specialist allowances, as well as an increase in the uniform allowance for nurses to ₦80,000.
According to Balange, the demands of the workers are fair, justified, and essential to improving their welfare and strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
“We remain hopeful that the state government will act promptly to avoid disruption of healthcare services in the best interest of the people of Katsina State,” Balange said.
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