By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Nigerian health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), have suspended their 84-day strike.
The strike was suspended following agreements reached with the Federal Government at an emergency conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The industrial action, which entered its 84th day on Friday, February 6, has paralysed activities in government-owned hospitals across the country, leaving patients stranded and forcing many to seek essential medical services outside public health facilities.
The decision was taken at an expanded emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of JOHESU held on Friday, February 6, in Abuja and virtually.
The NEC meeting reviewed the outcome of the February 5 conciliation talks aimed at resolving the trade dispute that led to the strike on November 15, 2025.
In a communiqué signed by the National President, Comrade Kabir Minijibir, and the National Secretary, Comrade Martins Egbanubi, JOHESU said the NEC, after exhaustive deliberations, unanimously voted to suspend the strike to allow for the implementation of the agreed terms of settlement with the Federal Government.
JOHESU consequently directed all its members nationwide to resume work with effect from midnight on Friday, February 6.
The union said the strike was caused by the failure of the Federal Government and some state governments to address long-standing demands, particularly the non-implementation of adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which it noted has remained unresolved since similar adjustments were made to CONMESS in 2014.
The NEC expressed concern over the humanitarian and economic consequences of the prolonged industrial action, citing increased maternal and infant mortality, morbidity, and fatalities across the health system.
According to the communiqué, previous efforts to resolve the dispute included two review meetings with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare held on January 15 and January 22, 2026, during which proposals and counter-proposals were exchanged.
Earlier conciliation meetings convened by the Ministry of Labour were described as largely unsuccessful until the emergency session of February 5, which was held following a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
Some resolutions were reached at the emergency meeting attended by the ministers of labour, finance, and health, representatives of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, as well as leaders of the NLC, TUC, and JOHESU.
The resolutions include the restructuring of the ongoing collective bargaining agreement to address defects and implementation gaps between 2009 and 2026; the immediate commencement of negotiations on outstanding CONHESS adjustment issues exclusively under JOHESU; and the inclusion of budgetary provisions for the adjustment in the 2026 Appropriation Act.
Other agreements reached include the immediate withdrawal of the “no work, no pay” directive issued during the strike, payment of January 2026 salaries to affected workers, and assurances that no JOHESU member will be victimised, sanctioned, or intimidated for participating in the industrial action.
The unions also warned that failure to fully implement the agreed terms would leave the NLC and TUC with no option but to deploy lawful industrial relations measures.
JOHESU expressed appreciation to individuals and institutions that intervened to resolve the crisis, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the chairmen of the Senate and House health committees, hospital chief executives, professional bodies, and traditional rulers.
The union also thanked the leadership of the NLC and TUC for their support and solidarity, as well as its members across affiliate unions, MHWUN, NUAHP, SSAUTHRIAI, and NASU, for what it described as resilience and commitment throughout the strike.
