The Federal Government has announced a framework aimed at resolving the prolonged industrial dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), assuring health workers that the long-awaited review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) remains under active consideration.
The government’s position followed a joint statement by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), which accused the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of deliberately failing to implement the 2021 report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS adjustment. JOHESU had earlier issued an ultimatum to the ministry over the matter, a development that led to the ongoing strike action that began on 14 November 2025.
In a press release signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, the ministry rejected allegations of deliberate refusal to act on the committee’s report or discrimination against any category of health workers. It reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining industrial harmony in the health sector.
According to the ministry, several conciliatory meetings have been held with JOHESU since the commencement of the strike, both at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, despite the union’s decision to seek intervention from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
A major breakthrough, the ministry said, occurred at a high-level conciliatory meeting convened on 15 January 2026, where a tentative understanding was reached on a framework to resolve the lingering dispute. At that meeting, JOHESU proposed the implementation of the 2021 Technical Sub-Committee report under the High-Level Body chaired by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which recommended adjustments to CONHESS. The unions also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the “No Work, No Pay” circular as part of their conditions.
In response, the ministry appealed for the maintenance of the status quo to allow the NSIWC to conclude an ongoing job evaluation exercise designed to determine appropriate placement and remuneration for all health professionals. The exercise, which commenced in November 2025 and is expected to last six months, is intended to provide an evidence-based foundation for salary adjustments and the reconvening of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
On the “No Work, No Pay” policy, the ministry stated that if JOHESU calls off the strike in good faith, the issue would be addressed administratively. It also affirmed its readiness to accommodate the continued participation of the NLC and TUC in subsequent negotiations.
The ministry disclosed that additional meetings were held on 20 and 22 January 2026 to consolidate agreements reached earlier and pave the way for the suspension of the strike. It noted, however, that the ongoing engagements contrast sharply with the ultimatum issued by organised labour.
Reaffirming its stance, the Federal Government said it remains committed to achieving a fair and lasting resolution to the dispute through dialogue, mutual respect and equity across professional cadres.
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The ministry also acknowledged that the demand for CONHESS adjustment has persisted for over a decade and assured that the current administration is determined to address the issue in a manner that ensures uninterrupted healthcare delivery and long-term industrial peace.
The ministry urged JOHESU to call off the strike to allow negotiations to continue in the interest of the health sector and the Nigerian public, while commending health professionals who have remained at their duty posts, assuring that efforts would continue to keep federal hospitals operational nationwide.
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