The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has warned of a renewed nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government does not implement agreed salary adjustments for health workers by the end of April. This ultimatum follows the suspension of a previous strike in February and underscores a persistent pay dispute within Nigeria’s public health sector.
Dr. Bassey Icha, Chairman of JOHESU’s Cross River State Chapter, revealed the deadline in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Tuesday. He explained that the union’s members resumed work after a suspension of strike action that began on November 15, 2025, and was halted by national leadership on February 6. The suspension was conditional, granted after the government appealed for more time, with a committee’s approvals expected by April.
The core grievance centres on the non-review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), introduced in 2009. Dr. Icha noted that while health workers under the separate Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors have received multiple salary reviews, widening the compensation gap. He stressed that JOHESU is not seeking parity with doctors but a fair review aligned with government salary templates for other sectors.
According to Dr. Icha, several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with the government since 2014 remain unimplemented. Specifically, a 2021 memorandum forwarded to the Budget Office has not been processed by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, stalling the adjustment process.
The union’s position is bolstered by research indicating that Nigeria pays its health workers less than many West African peers, including Ghana. Dr. Icha argued that inadequate remuneration, coupled with insufficient training and modern equipment, hampers healthcare delivery nationwide.
Failure to meet the April deadline, he asserted, will force JOHESU back to industrial action. The warning highlights the fragile state of labour relations in Nigeria’s health sector and the government’s challenge in balancing fiscal constraints with worker welfare. A renewed strike could further strain an already overburdened public health system, impacting service delivery across the country. The coming months will determine whether negotiated settlements can be secured or if another nationwide disruption looms.
