The Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) was first launched in Nigeria in 2009.
On 25th July, 2023 the National salaries, incomes and wages commission released a memo on upward review of the CONHESS, to take effect from 1st June, 2023 – which implies an increase in salaries of health workers in Nigeria.
CONHESS, or the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, is a salary structure for health workers in the federal public service in Nigeria. It was introduced in 2009 to replace the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) which was seen as being unfair to health workers. CONHESS was designed to provide a more equitable and transparent salary structure for health workers, and to attract and retain qualified health professionals in the public sector. The CONHESS salary structure is based on a number of factors, including the employee’s grade level, qualification, and experience. It also includes a number of allowances, such as call duty allowance, shift duty allowance, and specialist allowance.
The Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) was first launched in Nigeria in 2009. It was to take effect on January 1, 2010, but was delayed due to a number of factors, including the need to review the salary structure and to negotiate with health workers’ unions. The CONHESS salary structure finally took effect on July 1, 2011.
The introduction of CONHESS was met with some resistance from health workers, who argued that it did not adequately reflect their contributions. However, the government eventually agreed to review the CONHESS salary structure, and a number of changes were made in 2014.
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2014 modifications in CONHESS
The changes made to CONHESS in 2014 were a positive step for health workers in Nigeria. The increased salaries and allowances have helped to improve the morale of health workers, and have made the public sector a more attractive option for qualified health professionals.
In 2014, the government of Nigeria made a number of changes to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). These changes were made in response to concerns raised by health workers’ unions, who argued that the original CONHESS salary structure did not adequately reflect their contributions.
Some of the key changes made to CONHESS in 2014 include:
- An increase in the minimum salary for health workers.
- The introduction of a number of new allowances, such as a hazard allowance and a responsibility allowance.
- The reclassification of some health workers’ positions, which resulted in an increase in salary for some workers.
The government also agreed to review the CONHESS salary structure on a regular basis, to ensure that it remains fair and equitable.
Differences between the 2009 and 2023 Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in Nigeria
On 25th July, 2023 the National salaries, incomes and wages commission released a memo on upward review of the CONHESS, to take effect from 1st June, 2023 – which implies an increase in salaries of health workers in Nigeria. The following are the major differences spotted in the structure:
Salary: The salaries in the 2023 CONHESS are significantly higher than those in the 2009 CONHESS. For example, a grade level 1, step 1 employee in the 2023 CONHESS earns 150,000 Naira, while a grade level 1, step 1 employee in the 2009 CONHESS earned 100,000 Naira.
Step increments: The step increments in the 2023 CONHESS are larger than those in the 2009 CONHESS. For example, a grade level 1 employee in the 2023 CONHESS earns an additional 10,000 Naira for each step increment, while a grade level 1 employee in the 2009 CONHESS earned an additional 5,000 Naira for each step increment.
House rent allowance: The house rent allowance in the 2023 CONHESS is higher than that in the 2009 CONHESS. For example, a grade level 1 employee in the 2023 CONHESS earns 50,000 Naira per annum for house rent allowance, while a grade level 1 employee in the 2009 CONHESS earned 30,000 Naira per annum for house rent allowance.
Other allowances: The other allowances in the 2023 CONHESS are also higher than those in the 2009 CONHESS. For example, a grade level 1 employee in the 2023 CONHESS earns 10,000 Naira per annum for transport allowance, while a grade level 1 employee in the 2009 CONHESS earned 5,000 Naira per annum for transport allowance.
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Percentage increase.
Overall, the percentage difference in the increments between the 2009 and 2023 CONHESS is significant. This is in line with the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of health workers in Nigeria.
Here is a table summarizing the percentage difference in the increments between the 2009 and 2023 CONHESS:
| Increment | 2009 CONHESS | 2023 CONHESS | Percentage Difference | |
| Salary | 100,000 | 150,000 | 50% | |
| Step increase | 5,000 | 10,000 | 100% | |
| House rent allowance | 30,000 | 50,000 | 66.67% | |
| Transport allowance | 5,000 | 10,000 | 100% | |
| Hazard allowance | 5,000 | 10,000 and above | 100% |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2023 CONHESS provides for significantly higher salaries and allowances than the 2009 CONHESS. This is in line with the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of health workers in Nigeria as well as an actualization of the agreement reached between the unions and the government on periodic review of the CONHESS since 2014.
Written By Theophilus Tyonongu.
