The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has suspended its nationwide strike, 84 days after the industrial action began.
The union called off the strike at the end of its expanded national executive council (NEC) emergency meeting held in Abuja on Friday.
The meeting was convened to review the outcomes of the federal government -JOHESU conciliation meeting held on Thursday at the federal ministry of labour and employment headquarters.
The union embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike on November 15, 2025, over what it called the federal government’s persistent failure to implement the adjusted consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) and resolve longstanding welfare and systemic issues affecting health workers.
In a communique issued after the meeting, JOHESU said the strike has been suspended to “allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements”.
“After exhaustive deliberations and review of the terms of settlement of the conciliation meeting, the expanded NEC session voted unanimously to suspend the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike action to allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU terms of settlement,” the communique reads.
“While appreciating the masses for their understanding throughout the period of the industrial action, we appeal to consumers of health that a recurring infliction of injustice and a huge trust deficit necessitated this unfortunate and avoidable JOHESU nationwide strike and hope that the Federal Government as well as other state governments show both sensitivity and responsibility in ensuring Nigerians avoid this depth of suffering in the foreseeable future.”
JOHESU said there were two review sessions during the strike on January 15 and 22 with the federal ministry of health ministry, aimed at resolving the trade dispute.
The union said its leadership presented a proposal at the January 22 meeting, following the expanded NEC deliberation, while the ministry of health also made a counter proposal.
“The third meeting was the emergency conciliation meeting convened on February 5, 2026, arising from the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to FG on the implementation of the adjustment of CONHESS,” the communique said.
JOHESU said it was agreed that the “budgetary allocation to take care of the implementation of the adjustment of CONHESS must form a cardinal part and projection of the 2026 Appropriation Act, and that the “NO WORK, NO PAY” directive would be withdrawn and the January 2026 salaries of JOHESU members be paid immediately.”
According to the communique, it was also agreed that no member of JOHESU who participated in the strike would be victimised or sanctioned.
Members of JOHESU include the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSAU), Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (THRIA), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NSSUEAI).
