The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, has suspended its planned picketing of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. This decision comes after President Bola Tinubu intervened, setting up a high-level committee to address the unions’ demands. The committee, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, includes governors from Edo and Kebbi States, as well as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

JOHESU President Kabiru Minjibir disclosed the suspension during a discussion, stating that the union had tabled its issues before President Tinubu during a meeting between the Nigeria Labour Congress leadership and the President. The meeting focused on the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure, a major part of the discussions. The committee has been mandated to engage with labour unions and resolve outstanding issues, with a meeting scheduled to discuss the long-standing demand for the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS.

The suspension of the picketing signals a temporary de-escalation of the industrial action, which began on November 15, 2025, over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the adjusted CONHESS and address other welfare and systemic challenges affecting health workers. The strike, which involves JOHESU and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, has significant implications for the healthcare sector.

The committee’s establishment and the scheduled meeting are seen as positive steps towards resolving the dispute. JOHESU has expressed cautious optimism about the committee’s ability to address its demands, particularly the CONHESS adjustment. The union’s decision to suspend the picketing exercise is a strategic move, allowing for discussions to continue and potentially leading to a resolution.

The development is a significant update in the ongoing industrial action, which has affected healthcare services nationwide. As stakeholders await the outcome of the committee’s deliberations, the temporary suspension of the picketing exercise offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the dispute. The next steps will depend on the committee’s findings and the willingness of the parties involved to negotiate and find common ground.