The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has issued a 15-day strike ultimatum to the federal government over its failure to implement the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a demand that has remained unresolved for more than a decade.
In a notice signed by JOHESU’s National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, and National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, the union accused the federal government of insensitivity and discrimination in handling the welfare concerns of its members despite several agreements and presidential assurances.
JOHESU, which comprises the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), said the ultimatum took effect from Friday, 31 October 2025.
The union said the dispute centres on the federal government’s failure to implement the upward adjustment of CONHESS as was done with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors on three different occasions since 2014.
According to JOHESU, the issue had been the subject of several negotiations, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on 29 October 2024, as well as earlier presidential assurances following a meeting between JOHESU leaders and President Bola Tinubu on 5 June 2023.
Despite multiple conciliation meetings and commitments from government representatives, JOHESU said the agreement has not been implemented.
It noted that the federal government has repeatedly cited delays in convening the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS), which, according to the union, has not met since August 2023 following the inauguration of the current Federal Executive Council.
The union described the situation as the longest-running welfare dispute in Nigeria’s labour history, with the government’s high-level body having submitted a template for implementation to the PCS since 2022.
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