JOHESU declares nationwide strike over 12- year salary delay
JOHESU declares nationwide strike
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike over the Federal Government’s 12-year delay in implementing the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The decision was announced today in Abuja by the JOHESU National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, at the end of the union’s Expanded National Executive Council meeting. The strike is scheduled to begin at midnight.
Minjibir said the resolution was unanimous, directing all affiliate unions in federal health institutions to withdraw their services until the government fully implements the long-awaited salary adjustment.
“This 12-year delay is unacceptable. Health workers have shown maturity and patriotism, but government inaction has made this strike inevitable,” he stated.
He noted that the union had engaged the government repeatedly since 2014 through memoranda, conciliation meetings, and dialogue, but no meaningful progress had been achieved. He added that the failure to act on the High-Level Body report on CONHESS, submitted in 2022, had heightened workers’ frustration.
Minjibir also disclosed that JOHESU state councils had been directed to issue 15-day strike notices to their respective state governments, in line with labour laws, assuring full national support once state-level actions begin.
While apologising to Nigerians for the looming service disruption, he warned against any form of victimisation of members who participate in the strike.
The chairman stressed that JOHESU remains open to dialogue, saying the swift implementation of the adjusted salary structure could lead to the suspension of the action.
“The Federal Government must prioritise workers’ welfare. Timely resolution of disputes in the health sector is essential to effective service delivery and national stability,” he said.
