By Ojoma Akor
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it has set up a framework towards resolving the industrial dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The ministry, in a statement on Saturday, said it also remains committed to achieving sustainable industrial peace in the health sector.
It said, “Nigeria remains steadfast in its commitment to finding an enduring and sustainable resolution to the dispute in the overall interest of the nation guided by dialogue, fairness, and mutual respect.”
The statement was issued in response to a joint statement by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the ongoing trade dispute between the ministry and JOHESU.
JOHESU had earlier issued an ultimatum to the ministry, demanding an adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in the same manner as was implemented for the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which culminated in the ongoing strike action by JOHESU, which commenced in November last year.
The unions, in their recent statement, alleged that the ministry deliberately refused to implement the technical committee’s report on the adjustment of CONHESS, submitted in 2021.
They alleged that the delay amounts to institutional disrespect towards health workers and organised labour and, consequently, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government through the ministry.
However, the ministry denied the allegations.
The statement said, “Contrary to these claims, the Federal Government has, since the commencement of the industrial action, held several conciliatory meetings with JOHESU, both at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, aimed at resolving the dispute amicably. These meetings are being held despite JOHESU’s approach to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to intervene in the dispute.
“Notably, a high-level conciliatory meeting convened on Thursday, 15 January 2026, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, formed part of sustained efforts by the Federal Government to de-escalate tensions and arrive at a mutually acceptable resolution.”
The ministry further said that it reached a tentative understanding with JOHESU on a framework for resolving the lingering trade dispute at the meeting held on 15 January 2026.
It said, “It is important to state that the demand by JOHESU for CONHESS adjustment has been longstanding for over a decade, with previous federal governments unable to resolve it. JOHESU is a beneficiary of the recent increase in professional allowances for health workers, amounting to about 58 billion naira in arrears from July 2024 and about 40 billion naira annually for JOHESU members.
“Recognising the critical role of healthcare workers in national development and public welfare, the current Federal Government is determined to resolve the issues in a manner that safeguards uninterrupted healthcare delivery, promotes team spirit and equity across professional cadres, and reinforces industrial harmony for the long-term good of the country.”
The ministry urged JOHESU to call off the strike and allow negotiations to continue in the interest of the health sector and the Nigerian public.
It further said that it has so far held three meetings with JOHESU this year with a view to JOHESU calling off the ongoing strike action.
“Against this backdrop, the ministry notes that when these sustained engagements are contextualised against the ultimatum issued by the NLC and TUC, there is a clear mismatch. The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, remains resolutely committed to achieving sustainable industrial peace in the health sector,” the ministry said.
