By Fatima Saka
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has disclosed that health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) recently benefited from improved professional allowances amounting to about ₦58 billion in arrears from July 2024, alongside an estimated ₦40 billion annual commitment, even as negotiations continue on the review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The disclosure comes amid ongoing industrial action by JOHESU, which commenced on 14 November 2025, following demands for an adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in line with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
However, the labour warned that failure to comply within the 14-day ultimatum would compel organised labour to mobilise Nigerian workers nationwide, across both public and private sectors, for a total and coordinated industrial action.
Labour centres, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), have accused the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of failing to implement the 2021 Technical Committee report recommending a review of CONHESS.
They argued that the delay in implementing the report amounted to institutional disregard for health workers on CONHESS and consequently issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
In response, the Ministry denied allegations of deliberate refusal to act, insisting that there is no discrimination against any category of health workers and reaffirming its commitment to industrial harmony within the health sector.
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The Ministry explained that several conciliatory meetings have been held with JOHESU since the commencement of the strike, including a high-level meeting on 15 January 2026, during which a tentative framework for resolving the remuneration dispute was reached.
According to the Ministry, JOHESU’s demand for CONHESS adjustment has persisted for over a decade, and the current administration says it is determined to reach a fair and sustainable resolution that promotes equity across health professions while safeguarding uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
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