The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Oyo State Council, has thrown its weight behind the position earlier taken by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in opposing the recent increase in health insurance deductions from workers’ salaries to 7.5 per cent of basic pay.
Addressing members across the state, the Chairperson of MHWUN, Comrade Olumide-Lawal Bolanle, said while the union fully supports health insurance as a means of safeguarding workers’ health, the scheme must not become an additional burden on workers’ income and livelihood. She stressed that health insurance should be universally affordable and worker-friendly.
According to her, the upward review of the deduction is excessive and unjustified, noting that any increase in workers’ contributions must be fair, reasonable and equitable, and should only be implemented after proper consultation and mutual agreement with recognised labour unions.
Comrade Olumide-Lawal acknowledged and commended the Oyo State Government under Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for its credible, progressive and workers-friendly policies, particularly in the health sector. She cited ongoing renovations of health facilities, improved working conditions and better government–labour relations, describing the governor as a “talk-and-do” leader.
However, she warned that the new deduction policy poses a serious threat to workers’ welfare, adding that service delivery under the current health insurance scheme has not shown significant improvement. She lamented that many health workers still struggle to access essential drugs, laboratory services and specialist care.
The MHWUN chairperson also raised concerns about newly employed staff, whose contributions have reportedly been deducted since the inception of the scheme but who are yet to be formally enrolled, thereby denying them access to benefits.
In line with the NULGE position, the union called for the immediate reversal of the 7.5 per cent deduction and a return to the previous rate, pending a comprehensive review of the scheme and constructive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders.
Comrade Olumide-Lawal reaffirmed MHWUN’s commitment to cooperation, industrial harmony and improved healthcare delivery in the state, but insisted that the union would resist any policy that undermines the welfare, income and overall well-being of health workers.
