The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has renewed its demand for improved remuneration for hospital pharmacists, calling on the Federal Government to introduce new allowances that reflect their essential role in the country’s healthcare system.
The appeal was made by PSN President, Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, during a press conference in Lagos ahead of the society’s 98th annual conference, tagged Dabo 2025.
Tanko explained that the proposed allowances would cover scarce skills, extra duties, and productivity, noting that pharmacists remain central to patient care in hospitals.
“Over 70 percent of patients in hospitals end up at the pharmacy. Yet, the profession is losing talent rapidly. PSN data shows that over 8,200 pharmacists have failed to renew their licenses in the past five years, many of them having migrated abroad. The government must address this exodus in the national interest,” Tanko stated.
He also expressed concerns over the outcome of the September CBA Technical Committee meetings involving trade unions and healthcare associations such as JOHESU and AHPA, which represent more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s health workforce.
Tanko faulted the proposal to establish a relativity clause between the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), warning that such a move would further divide the already fragile health sector.
“The PSN does not subscribe to this. We will insist that the rights and privileges of our members are not trampled,” he said.
Tracing the origin of the salary disparity to 1991, Tanko alleged that the late Health Minister, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, used his influence to introduce a medical salary scale that sidelined other health professionals.
“Prior to this, both pharmacists and physicians began their careers on grade level 8, progressing to grade level 9 after the National Youth Service. The introduction of relativity saw physicians leap to grade level 10, leaving others behind.
“The proposal seeks to institutionalise an even greater imbalance. Under the new scheme, a physician fresh from youth service could start at grade level 13 and earn 1.2 times more than peers on the same grade, despite having no experience. At the terminal level, this gap could widen to 1.5 times, as allowances are tied to basic salaries.
“This is contrary to every known public or private sector remuneration standard. Workers on the same grade level must earn the same emoluments. Otherwise, it becomes meaningless to study any other health course apart from Medicine,” the PSN president added.
He reaffirmed that the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Federal Government provides for parity-based wages, not relativity-based ones.
“The PSN and JOHESU will resist any attempt to entrench such an immoral and unlawful policy,” he vowed, urging the government to consult with labour and legal experts to design equitable pay structures.
Tanko further called for the full implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre, which has already been approved by the National Council on Establishments (NCE). He stressed that under trade union law, only PSN and JOHESU are authorised to negotiate the welfare of pharmacists, including matters relating to the cadre.
He disclosed that over 35 Federal Health Institutions were yet to implement the directive, commending those that had complied while criticising Lagos State for what he described as a slow response, allegedly due to pressure from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
In a direct appeal to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tanko urged him to honour his earlier commitments.
“As a member of the Lagos Executive Council, Sanwo-Olu supported the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre, which received national approval in 2011. During his 2019 campaign at the PSN Lagos Secretariat, he promised to reinstate the suspended circular on the cadre, a promise yet to be fulfilled,” he said.
Tanko criticised the Ambode administration for mishandling the circular since 2018 and lamented the silence of the current administration despite repeated appeals. He, however, noted that PSN would not petition the governor but cautioned, “We hasten to remind him that the countdown to the end of his tenure in May 2027 has begun.”
Looking ahead, Tanko said the PSN plans to restructure the pharmacy workforce, positioning Consultant Pharmacists at the top of hospital, administrative, and academic practice. “Our conference will be geared towards evolving in this direction,” he said.
He added that the 98th annual national conference, DABO 2025, will be held in Kano under the theme “Pharmacy Forward: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Performance, Collaboration and Transformation.”
