Janet Ogundepo
The Joint Health Sector Unions have threatened possible industrial action over the delayed adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, warning the Federal Government against further delays in implementing the long-standing demand.
The union gave the warning after an emergency expanded National Executive Council virtual meeting held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, which was attended by its affiliates and organs at the federal and state levels.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, and National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, JOHESU said its members should begin mobilisation across health institutions nationwide in preparation for possible industrial action.
“NEC-in-Session placed its members on notice to be on alert and commence mobilisation across health institutions in the country for possible industrial action and for necessary but corrosive and unparalleled resistance should the government succumb to any threat or action by persons or groups to thwart this flagship demand of JOHESU,” the statement read.
The union said the adjustment of CONHESS had remained unresolved for about 13 years, describing it as one of the oldest demands in the history of organised labour.
It commended the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria for taking steps to secure the implementation of the adjustment.
“NEC-in-Session saluted the sagacity of the two labour centres, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, for taking decisive steps to actualise the adjustment of CONHESS, which has now become the oldest demand in the organised labour history, having lingered for about 13 years now,” JOHESU stated.
JOHESU warned that it would resist any attempt to frustrate the implementation of the adjustment, insisting that the time for its uninterrupted implementation was now or never.
The union also recalled that President Bola Tinubu had promised its members on June 5, 2023, to actualise the adjustment when he appealed to the union to suspend its strike after assuming office.
It said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had forwarded the 2021 High Level Body Technical Committee Report on the adjustment to the Budget Office of the Federation, which serves as the secretariat of the Presidential Committee on Salaries, on June 5, 2023.
However, JOHESU said the inability of the Presidential Committee on Salaries to meet had continued to delay official approval of the adjustment.
The union warned that it would resist any further attempt to use the committee’s inability to meet as a reason for delaying the process.
It also cited the Trade Unions Act, Cap T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which it said permits trade unions to negotiate benefit packages and collective bargaining agreements on behalf of their members.
JOHESU said its members should remain alert and prepare for what it described as necessary resistance if the Federal Government yielded to threats or actions by individuals or groups seeking to frustrate the demand.
However, it urged members to remain peaceful while awaiting further developments and directives from the NLC and TUC, following the ultimatum and timeline issued to the Federal Government on the implementation of the adjusted CONHESS.
JOHESU comprises the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, including its technical arm, the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations.
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