Nigeria’s health workers suspend strike after 84 days
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has suspended its nationwide strike after 84 days of turning back to work, while it would be recalled that the workers union had argued that its demand for salary adjustments dates back to 2014.
Penpushing reports that National Executive Council (NEC) meeting made the suspension of the strike known in a statement, explaining it followed an agreement with the Nigerian government to implement overdue salary adjustments and other outstanding demands.
“After exhaustive deliberations and review of the terms of settlement of the conciliation meeting, the expanded NEC-in-Session voted unanimously to suspend the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike action to allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements,” the statement read.
Penpushing further reports that it would be recalled that the strike, which began on November 15, 2025, brought public health services across Nigeria to a near halt, leaving patients stranded in hospitals or forced to seek care in private facilities.
The health workers union explained that the action was triggered primarily by delays in implementing the report of the High-Level Body Committee on Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which was submitted to the Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages in 2022.
Penpushing also reports that Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) members which include health workers in Nigeria’s public hospitals, apart from doctors and nurses argued that its demand for salary adjustments dates back to 2014, when similar adjustments under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) were implemented for doctors.
The union argued that non-doctor cadres under Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) were left behind in an alleged breach of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement, accusing relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of delaying the matter, citing slow prioritisation by the Presidential Committee on Salaries.
Penpushing reports that the unions said the decision to embark on the strike followed a unanimous resolution at its Expanded National Executive Council meeting on November 14, 2025, in compliance with Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The strike was called off after a National Executive (NEC) meeting convened in a hybrid format at the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) National Secretariat in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Penpushing further reports that the meeting brought together the Presidents and General Secretaries of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU’s) affiliate unions, Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).
The others are Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), as well as Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) veterans. State chapter chairpersons and secretaries, along with representatives from federal and non-hospital-based health institutions.
Penpushing also reports that National leaders of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) attended the meeting, and during the session, National Executive Committee (NEC) members reviewed the outcome of a conciliation meeting held on February 5, 2026 at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
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