The Federal Government has appealed to the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to suspend its indefinite strike, now over two months old, and allow ongoing negotiations to continue in the interest of the health sector and the Nigerian public.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Alaba Balogun, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the government rejected claims made by JOHESU and labour centres, stressing that its engagements with the union do not align with the ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
The Nation reports that the NLC and TUC had warned that the Ministry would be held responsible for any disruption arising from failure to meet their demands within the ultimatum period.
Responding, the government reaffirmed its commitment to industrial harmony in the health sector and provided clarification on the issues surrounding the strike, which began on November 14, 2025, following JOHESU’s demand for an adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), similar to the review earlier implemented for the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The Ministry dismissed allegations that it deliberately refused to implement the 2021 report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS adjustment, describing such claims as untrue and misleading.
“There is absolutely no truth in the allegation of deliberate refusal to implement the Technical Committee’s report, nor is there discrimination against any category of health workers,” the government said.
It stated that since the commencement of the strike, several conciliatory meetings have been held with JOHESU at both the Ministries of Health and Labour, despite the union’s decision to seek intervention from the National Industrial Court.
According to the Ministry, a high-level meeting held on January 15, 2026, led to a tentative understanding on a framework for resolving the dispute. At the meeting, JOHESU proposed the implementation of the 2021 Technical Sub-Committee report recommending CONHESS adjustment and demanded the withdrawal of the “No Work, No Pay” circular.
The government said it appealed to JOHESU to maintain the status quo pending the conclusion of an ongoing job evaluation exercise by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which commenced in November 2025 and is expected to last six months.
The evaluation, it explained, would guide salary adjustments and the reconvening of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), taking into account existing memoranda of understanding and past agreements within the health sector.
On the “No Work, No Pay” policy, the Ministry assured that if JOHESU calls off the strike in good faith, the matter would be addressed administratively.
It also confirmed its willingness to continue engaging with the NLC and TUC and disclosed that additional meetings were held on January 20 and 22, 2026, to finalise issues agreed upon earlier and pave the way for the suspension of the strike.
The government noted that JOHESU’s demand for CONHESS adjustment has persisted for over a decade, with previous administrations unable to resolve it, but stressed that the current government is determined to find a lasting solution through dialogue, fairness, and mutual respect.
While appreciating health professionals who remain at work, the Ministry assured Nigerians that efforts would continue to ensure federal hospitals remain open and functional.
