By Kalu Obasi Benjamin
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has officially put the Federal Government on notice, warning that a fresh nationwide industrial action is imminent if agreed salary adjustments are not implemented by April. This ultimatum follows the union’s recent decision to suspend an 84-day strike that had paralyzed public hospitals across the country since late 2025.
Speaking in Calabar on Tuesday, Dr. Bassey Icha, Chairman of the JOHESU Cross River Chapter, revealed that while members have resumed their duties, the return to work is only a temporary grace period. The union agreed to halt the strike on February 6 after government negotiators appealed for more time to finalize the administrative approvals needed to increase worker pay.
The core of the dispute lies in the long-overdue review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). Dr. Icha pointed out that while medical doctors have seen their pay scales adjusted multiple times, other health professionals—including pharmacists, nurses, and lab scientists—have been stuck on a pay template that has not been updated since 2009.
The union clarified that it is not seeking equal pay with doctors, but rather a fair and proportionate adjustment that reflects current economic realities.Union leaders expressed deep frustration over what they describe as a “trust deficit,” noting that several agreements signed since 2014 have been ignored. A key technical report on pay adjustments has been ready since 2021 but remains stalled within the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
JOHESU warned that Nigerian health workers are now among the lowest-paid in West Africa, trailing behind colleagues in countries like Ghana.As public hospitals struggle to return to full capacity, the threat of a renewed shutdown looms large. JOHESU has urged the government to use the window between now and April to fulfill its promises, emphasizing that industrial harmony can only be sustained through improved working conditions, modern equipment, and the immediate implementation of the new salary structure.
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