Abuja, Nigeria – The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has announced the suspension of its nationwide strike, which commenced 84 days ago on November 15, 2025. The decision was reached during an expanded national executive council (NEC) emergency meeting held in Abuja on Friday, February 6, 2026.
The industrial action was initiated due to the federal government’s prolonged failure to implement the adjusted consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) and address various welfare and systemic concerns affecting health workers across the nation. The union’s leadership stated that the strike’s suspension is intended to facilitate the implementation of the agreed-upon terms of settlement between the Federal Government (FG) and JOHESU.
In a communique released after the meeting, JOHESU highlighted the unanimous vote by the expanded NEC to suspend the strike. The communique stated, “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 union also extended its appreciation to the public for their understanding during the period of industrial action. It further appealed to “consumers of health” to recognize that the strike was a consequence of “recurring infliction of injustice and a huge trust deficit,” expressing hope that both the Federal Government and state governments would demonstrate sensitivity and responsibility to prevent similar suffering in the future.
Throughout the strike, two review sessions were held on January 15 and 22, 2026, with the Federal Ministry of Health to resolve the trade dispute. During the January 22 meeting, JOHESU presented a proposal following its NEC deliberations, to which the Ministry of Health responded with a counter-proposal.
A crucial third meeting, an emergency conciliation meeting, was convened on February 5, 2026. This meeting was prompted by a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the FG regarding the implementation of the CONHESS adjustment.
Key agreements reached during these conciliation meetings include:
Budgetary Allocation: The budgetary allocation for the implementation of the CONHESS adjustment must be a primary component of the 2026 Appropriation Act.
No Work, No Pay” Directive: The “NO WORK, NO PAY” directive issued during the strike would be withdrawn, and the January 2026 salaries for JOHESU members would be paid immediately.
Non-Victimization: No JOHESU member who participated in the strike would face victimization or sanctions.
JOHESU comprises several key unions, including 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).
