Health workers in Kaduna State have expressed excitement following Governor Uba Sani’s approval of the implementation of the 2024 Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and hazard allowance, effective September 2025.
The announcement, widely welcomed by the medical community, was disclosed during a press briefing in Kaduna by the Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Kaduna State chapter, Ishaku Yakubu.
Yakubu described the development as “long overdue” and a major victory for the state’s health workforce, who, he noted, had endured years of neglect and broken promises under previous administrations.
“This is quite commendable and timely because it is something we have been struggling to get for about three to four years. At some points, we had to embark on warning strikes and even indefinite strike actions to press home our demands with the past government,” he said.
The union leader explained that the approval marks a new phase of improved welfare for nurses, midwives, and other health professionals across Kaduna, stressing that it will boost morale and enhance service delivery in public health facilities.
Yakubu also commended Governor Sani for what he called “a demonstration of political will” to address long-standing grievances in the health sector. He, however, urged the state government to ensure prompt payment and consistent implementation of the allowances.
Health workers in Kaduna have, for years, staged industrial actions over poor welfare conditions, unpaid entitlements, and inadequate hazard allowances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline staff repeatedly protested what they termed “abandonment” despite their sacrifices and exposure to risk.
Nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals had embarked on strikes that paralysed hospitals, demanding implementation of CONHESS and better hazard pay.
Stakeholders say Governor Sani’s approval represents a clear policy shift from years of friction between the state government and its health workforce. Under the previous administration, Kaduna witnessed strained labour relations, including mass dismissals of health workers and other public servants following strikes.
By implementing the new salary structure and allowances, the Sani administration is seen as taking a significant step toward restoring confidence among health professionals, reducing brain drain in the sector, and strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
