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EHCON Staff In Limbo As Unpaid Salaries Threaten Healthcare System

BY MAGNUS AYOKA, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu

A ticking time bomb is threatening to devastate Nigeria's healthcare sector as staff of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), responsible for regulating and safeguarding the nation's environmental health, struggle to survive without salaries for 12 months.

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) formerly known as sanitary inspectors are referred to as Dubagari by the Hausas’, Nwa ole ala by the Igbos’ and Wole Wole by the Yorubas. 

Though they play a critical role in preventive healthcare system, their efforts have been instrumental in preventing diseases and curbing outbreaks of diseases in Nigeria. 

During the 2014 Ebola outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, EHOs risked their lives to combat the spread of these diseases.

Most recently, the council played a pivotal role in checkmating the Lassa fever epidemic in 21 states, and curtailing the outbreak of diseases during the Maiduguri flood disaster in 2024, which earned the Council special commendation from the Borno State Government. EHOs receive poor wages despite their alarming contribution to environmental and health sectors. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), preventive healthcare interventions can reduce healthcare costs by up to 30 percent.  Moreover, every dollar invested in preventive healthcare can yield a return of up to $3 in savings.

Despite its importance, preventive health often takes a backseat to curative healthcare, leaving many to wonder why this crucial aspect of public health is often overlooked. 

Most worrisome is the fact that the funding of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) established by Act 11 of 2002 as amended, was terminated by the government and this sent warning signal in the health sector already struggling with underfunding and lack of resources. 

Regretably, EHCON was pulled out of yearly budgetary allocation since 2024 till date. This has adversely affected activities of the council and sadly, the staff go through excruciating pain and hunger due to over 12 months unpaid salaries.

Many staff had since withdrawn their children from school because of their inability to pay school fees, while some have been ejected from their homes as they cannot afford to renew their rents. It is heartbreaking to see these health professionals and their families go through so much pain to survive. 

The defunding of EHCON is a call for immediate action. While budgetary constraints is a reality, cutting funds from preventive health initiatives could have irreversible effects.

For Nigeria to protect the health of its citizens, a robust environmental health framework must be prioritised. This means that aside restoring EHCON’s funding, exploring sustainable strategies to ensure the council can continue its work effectively is necessary. 

Preventive health is the unsung hero of public health. It's time for the government to act fast to restore the funding of the council and pay her members their salaries and allowances because a stitch in time saves nine. 
Magnus Ayoka is a Public Affairs Analyst. 

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