The announcement is contained in a communiqué jointly signed by JOHESU national chairman, Mr Kabiru Ado-Minjibir, and national secretary, Mr Martin Egbanubi, in Abuja.

The union said the decision followed resolutions reached at an emergency expanded National Executive Council, NEC, meeting.

It said the meeting was convened to review the outcome of a February 5 conciliation meeting with the federal government at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

According to the communiqué, key resolutions include the commencement of Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, negotiations and immediate prioritisation of outstanding issues on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS.

It added that the agreement provided for budgetary allocation for the salary adjustment in the 2026 Appropriation Act based on the existing technical committee template.

The communiqué said the federal government further agreed to withdraw the “No Work, No Pay” directive issued against JOHESU members during the strike.

It also said January 2026 salaries of all JOHESU members would be paid immediately and that no member would be victimised, sanctioned or intimidated for participating in the industrial action.

“Following a review of the resolutions, the expanded National Executive Council unanimously approved the suspension of the indefinite nationwide strike.

“The NEC subsequently directed all JOHESU members across federal and state health institutions to resume work with immediate effect,” the communiqué said.

It noted that the strike, which began on November 15, 2025, was triggered by the non-implementation of the CONHESS adjustment and other outstanding welfare issues.

According to the union, the prolonged strike adversely affected healthcare delivery, resulting in increased maternal and infant mortality across the country.

It also said the federal government reportedly lost close to one trillion naira in revenue during the strike period.

It stated that the conciliation meeting was convened by the Ministry of Labour and Employment following a 14-day ultimatum issued to the federal government by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

It added that ministers of labour, finance and health, as well as representatives of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, attended the meeting.

The union, however, commended the intervention of the National Assembly leadership, traditional rulers and professional bodies in resolving the dispute.

The union urged the federal and state governments to fully implement agreements reached to prevent future industrial actions.

Source: NAN

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The post JOHESU suspends 84-day nationwide strike, gives reason appeared first on Frontpageng.

TUC president, Mr Festus Osifo, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

Osifo described the action as provocative and a violation of industrial relations principles.

According to him, the circular by the Federal Ministry of Health ordering salary stoppage through Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, was reckless and amounted to intimidation of health workers.

“This circular is not policy but intimidation, and Congress will not accept negotiating with workers while punishment is simultaneously unleashed on them.

“The stoppage of salaries of health workers who save lives daily is wicked, insensitive and unpatriotic, especially amid worsening economic hardship,” he added.

Osifo added that the policy undermined ongoing negotiations between government and organised labour, warning that dialogue could not coexist with punitive measures.

According to him, health workers have continued to sustain the healthcare system despite poor conditions and should not be punished for systemic failures.

Osifo also described the stoppage of JOHESU salaries as insensitive, unpatriotic and capable of worsening hardship amid rising inflation and fuel prices.

He said the use of IPPIS to withhold workers’ pay was an abuse of state machinery and would be resisted by organised labour.

The TUC president said Nigerian workers had historically resisted threats and hunger, adding that intimidation would not aid workers’ submission.

He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular and restoration of all affected salaries without conditions.

Osifo also called on the Ministry of Health to return to negotiations within seven days to avert industrial unrest.

He said that failure to comply would compel Congress to mobilise workers nationwide for decisive collective action.

Osifo said responsibility for any disruption of services would rest on the ministry for choosing confrontation over dialogue.

He added that all TUC affiliates, state councils and the FCT council had been placed on red alert.

Source: NAN

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This is contained in a memo signed by the National Secretary of the union, Mr Martin Egbanubi, and addressed to presidents, general secretaries, and state chairmen of affiliate unions on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the union, the decision follows resolutions reached by its national leadership at an emergency virtual meeting held on January 12 to review developments surrounding the industrial action.

It recalled that the federal government recently directed the implementation of the ‘no work, no pay’ policy and the stoppage of JOHESU members’ salaries through the Accountant-General of the Federation’s office.

The strike, JOHESU said, stemmed from its long-standing demand for the implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, and other welfare-related issues.

The union stated that its national leadership reviewed reports from affiliates and congresses to assess the status of the strike nationwide.

It also reacted to a memo from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare directing chief medical directors and managing directors to enforce the policy.

JOHESU described the ‘no work, no pay’ policy as a common tool used to pressure workers when government delays the resolution of labour disputes.

The union said it had complied with all procedures outlined in the Trade Disputes Act before embarking on the industrial action.

It said that the action qualified as a lawful dispute of right, and not a breach of industrial relations laws.

JOHESU urged members not to be discouraged, and called for sustained solidarity and commitment to the struggle.

The union said it would intensify monitoring, picketing, and media engagement while exploring strategies to achieve its demands.

Source: NAN

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The directive is contained in a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FMoHSW, on Saturday in Abuja.

The circular was addressed to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal health institutions.

The circular, dated January 8, was signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Disu Adejoke, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

It stated that the directive followed the continuation of the JOHESU strike, which began on November 14, 2025.

According to the ministry, hospital managements are to ensure strict compliance with the federal government’s “No Work, No Pay” law.

The directive takes effect from January 2026 and applies to all striking JOHESU members, as well as any other category of staff who may embark on industrial action.

The ministry also directed health institutions to sustain critical services, including accident and emergency care, labour wards and intensive care units, through all lawful means, including the engagement of locum staff where necessary.

“All members of staff who are willing to continue with their work must be allowed to do so without hindrance or intimidation,” the circular read.

It further directed hospital authorities to ensure the security of lives and property within their facilities and to provide regular updates to the ministry on the impact of the strike on service delivery.

The federal government reiterated its commitment to maintaining essential healthcare services nationwide in spite of the industrial action.

Meanwhile, in an interview, Dr Gabriel Adakole, a public health expert based in Abuja, said the federal government’s enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking health workers was a legally backed move aimed at ending the ongoing JOHESU strike.

However, Adakole said that its implications for Nigeria’s fragile health system were significant.

“JOHESU members, who include nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other allied health professionals, are essential to hospital operations.

“Their absence weakens service delivery, even where emergency units remain open.

“While hospitals have been directed to sustain critical services and engage locum staff, experts warn that emergency-only care cannot replace full multidisciplinary healthcare, raising risks to patient safety and treatment outcomes.

“The policy also places financial pressure on health workers, potentially worsening low morale and accelerating the brain drain from Nigeria’s health sector,” he said.

Ultimately, he said that the patients would bear the greatest cost through delayed treatments and reduced access to care.

He argued that while “No Work, No Pay” may shorten strikes, lasting stability in the health sector required dialogue, trust-building and sustained investment in health workers and infrastructure.

Source: NAN

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Mr Kabiru  Minjibir,  JOHESU national chairman, made this declaration while  addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja at the end its Expanded National Executive Council meeting.

Minjibir said the decision to embark on an indefinite strike followed a unanimous resolution, directing all affiliate unions in federal health institutions to withdraw services from midnight Friday.

He explained that several engagements with the government since 2014 yielded no meaningful progress, despite assurances, memoranda and conciliation meetings aimed at resolving the long-standing salary dispute.

He said the federal government’s failure to act on the high-level body report on CONHESS, submitted since 2022, created frustration among health workers who had consistently embraced dialogue and demonstrated restraint.

“This 12-year delay is unacceptable. Health workers have shown maturity and patriotism, but government inaction has made this strike inevitable.

“Our members will remain on strike until the adjusted CONHESS structure is fully implemented.

“We cannot continue working under a violated agreement that disadvantages our workforce,” he added.

Minjibir said the state councils of JOHESU had been directed to issue a 15-day strike notice to their respective governments in line with labour laws, assuring full national support whenever state actions commenced.

He apologised to Nigerians for the disruption, saying the unions were compelled to act due to government delays, while warning against any form of victimisation of members participating in the strike.

He said JOHESU remained open to immediate dialogue with government, stressing that swift implementation of the salary structure could lead to a suspension of the industrial action without further escalation.

Minjibir urged the federal government to prioritise workers’ welfare, noting that timely resolution of disputes in the health sector was critical to service delivery and national stability.

Source: NAN

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Dr Mannir Bature, National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Bature said the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, had been directed to formally present the approval to the Council on Establishment through the Office of the Head of Service for finalisation.

He said the policy shift was conveyed by Pate during a high-level meeting with the NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, and key stakeholders in the health sector.

Bature said the meeting also had in attendance the leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU.

He said discussions centred on progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria.

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According to him, the coordinating minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, are set for payment.

“The necessary funds have been secured, and disbursement to beneficiaries will commence soon,” he said.

Bature quoted the minister as saying that President Tinubu had approved the correction of consequential adjustments for both CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“The process to effect this correction is at an advanced stage, providing much-needed relief to doctors and other healthcare workers,” he said.

He said following an extensive review initiated by the NMA, approval had been granted for the implementation of new tariffs for healthcare service providers.

“This will particularly benefit members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN), ensuring better financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services nationwide,” he said.

Bature said the coordinating minister expressed appreciation for the patience and collaboration of all stakeholders, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to improving the welfare of all healthcare workers.

Bature said Pate emphasised that collaboration was crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s health sector.

He said attendees at the meeting renewed their commitment to work together in advocating for the welfare of healthcare workers and ensuring the full implementation of key reforms.

NMA has championed increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer and for quality healthcare delivery.

Nationwide strikes had been declared by various health associations or unions over the non-implementation of CONMESS and CONHESS for doctors and healthcare workers.

Source: NAN

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JOHESU workers include the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, and the Senior Staff Association of Universities.

Others are the teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions and Associated Institutions, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.

Mr Kabir Minjibir, National President of JOHESU, issued the ultimatum in a memo he jointly signed with Mr Martin Engbanubi, Secretary of the association.

The memo was addressed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, on Thursday in Abuja.

Minjibir said that the union would embark on a nationwide strike in the next 15 days, should the federal government fail to resolve its pending welfare issues.

According to him, JOHESU is constrained to give the federal government 15 days ultimatum with effect from Thursday.

He said that the union was also informing the minister that its members would embark on a strike with effect from midnight of Friday, October 25.

“All our members in the Federal Health Institutions shall embark on seven days strike action.

“Sir, you will agree with us that JOHESU has always exhibited maturity, selflessness, and patriotism.

“This is even in the face of extreme provocations and the government’s long delay in meeting the demands of workers under JOHESU, and we think that our maturity and patriotism have been taken for granted.

“This 15-day ultimatum is necessitated by the non-response of the federal government to the plight of our members, despite our benevolence,” he said.

He recalled that some lingering issues had led the unions to embark on a nationwide strike from May 19 to June 6, 2023, but was suspended consequent upon the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

“The issues listed by the unions include the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure as was done with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure since January 2, 2014.

“There is also the implementation of a consultant cadre for pharmacists in Federal Health Institutions, the upward review in the retirement age from 60-65 years for health workers and 70 years for consultants,” said Minjibir.

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“He said that payment of JOHESU members in professional regulatory councils, payment of arrears of CONHESS review, and the tax waiver on healthcare workers’ allowances were also part of the lingering demands.

“We also demand the immediate payment of COVID-19 inducement hazard allowances to omitted health workers, and immediate suspension of planned establishment and activities of National Health Facility Regulatory Agency.

“There is also a demand for the withdrawal of the Drug Revolving Fund Standard Operating Procedures,” he said.

Minjibir said that the unions demanded the immediate implementation of CONHESS adjustment, and immediate payment of 25 per cent CONHESS review arrears.

He also called for the immediate payment of nine months outstanding salaries to staff of regulatory agencies and the immediate restoration of funding to Environmental Health Regulatory Council.

Source: NAN

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The president made the commitment on Monday in his office during an audience with leaders of Joint Health Sector Union, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

Tinubu harped on the importance of the health sector and professionals in the sector as one of commitment to humanity, promising to resolve all identified problems plaguing the system for optimum performance.

He urged the striking union to return to work.

“The health sector is one sector with a commitment to humanity. We will resolve all the problems. Trust must be enshrined in all discussions. I promise you we will accelerate this. We will resolve all the issues. Please go back to work,” President Tinubu appealed to the union leaders.

While expressing the readiness of the union to get its members back to work, Acting Chairman, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna, pleaded with President Tinubu to pay attention to healthcare delivery system in Nigeria through adequate investment in healthcare infrastructure and better welfare for workers in the sector to stop brain drain.

“Mr. President, now that we have assurance from the top, we are encouraged to go back and talk to our members with a view to going back to work,” he said.

Mr. Olumide Akintayo, a member of the executive council of the union, who accompanied the acting chairman to the meeting urged the federal government to always respond to Labour issues and nip them in the bud before they became full blown industrial crisis.

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Mr Biobelemoye Josiah, JOHESU national chairman, reiterated the call in a press statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

The union had on September 2, issued the federal government a 15-day ultimatum to meet its demands without which it will embark on nationwide strike at the expiry date.

However, this followed a unanimous resolution adopted by the expanded National Executive Council meeting of JOHESU, and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, AHPA, to step down the notice of strike that expired mid-night September 17 and issued a fresh notice of 15 days.

According to Josiah, “We wish to remind the federal government to act before it is too late on the fresh 15 days notice as contained in our communique issued on September 17, at the end of the last expanded NEC meeting.

“It will be recalled that the expanded NEC of JOHESU, professional associations and other affiliate unions had on September 17, critically appraised the reports of JOHESU negotiation and conciliation meetings with federal government.

“That is since the declaration of the trade dispute through the earlier 15 days strike notice issued on September 2, which expired on September 18.

“It is pertinent to draw the attention of the federal government to our fresh 15 days strike notice, which is billed to expire in the next few days and for it to act to avoid a shutdown of hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

“We wish also to inform the general public that our NEC noted the appeal from President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to show understanding with his administration and the president’s pledge to pay any debt owed health workers.

“We would also wish to note that some of the resolutions reached at the end of our meeting are to show that we are not strike mongers, but just for the federal government to act according to agreements reached,” he said.

He added that they had asked the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during negotiation meetings.

JOHESU national chairman said that the union had also asked the federal government to ensure a new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, for JOHESU members.

“That this should be completed and submitted to the ‘High Level Body (HLB)’ of the federal government not later than September 22, as agreed.

“We also urged the federal government to ensure that the HLB complete and submit the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget on or before September 30, submission window.

“We charged the federal government to reciprocate the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to expeditiously resolve all the demands within the 15 days window.

“While we push for better welfare and conditions of service for our members, we urge the federal government to reflect the promises of Mr President in the activities relating to our demands to ensure continuous industrial harmony in the health sector,” he said.

Source: NAN

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This followed a unanimous resolution adopted by the groups to step down the notice of strike due to expire mid-night September 17, and issue a fresh notice of 15 days.

It would be recalled that the union had on September 2, issued the federal government government a 15-day ultimatum to meet its demands or embark on nationwide strike at the expiry date.

The JOHESU Acting General Secretary, Chief Matthew Ajorutu, said this in a communique issued at the end of an Expanded National Executive Council, NEC, emergency meeting of the union via Zoom and physical attendance on Friday in Abuja.

The expanded NEC, comprising the presidents and general secretaries of affiliate unions and professional associations, NEC members of affiliate unions and JOHESU chairmen and secretaries at the state and branch levels.

Ajorutu said that NEC-in-session had critically appraised the reports of JOHESU negotiation and conciliation meetings with the federal government since the declaration of the trade dispute through the 15 days strike notice issued on September 2.

He said that NEC also noted the appeal from President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to show understanding with his administration and the president’s pledge to pay any debt owed health workers.

He said that NEC also received and examined reports of congresses held at various health facilities across the country on the mobilisation for the strike due to commence 00hrs September 18.

According to Ajorutu, NEC, after long hours of exhaustive deliberations on issues surrounding the planned industrial action, resolved that the Federal Ministry of Health should ensure speedy circularisation of all establishment and welfare matters as agreed during negotiation meetings.

“The Federal Government should ensure that the new data for the computation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for JOHESU members be completed and submitted to the ‘High Level Body (HLB)’ of the FG not later than Wednesday, September 22, as agreed.

“NEC-in-session urges the Federal Government to ensure that the High Level Body (HLB) completes and submits the computation of the adjusted CONHESS for inclusion in the 2022 budget within the  September 30th, submission window.

“NEC urges the Federal Government to reciprocate the patriotic humanitarian gesture of JOHESU in the interest of the larger Nigerian masses to expeditiously resolve all the demands within the fifteen days window.

“Finally, NEC-in-Session unanimously adopts a resolution to step down the notice of strike due to expire mid-night September17, and issue a fresh notice of fifteen days,” the communique reads in part.

He further said that NEC-commended all members for their commitment and understanding towards the struggle for better working conditions, improved healthcare services and social justice for all.

Source: NAN

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