BY KAYODE ADEBIYI
For decades, Nigeria’s healthcare system has been held in a tight grip by recurring industrial actions, with a cycle of ultimatums, warning strikes and indefinite industrial action.
These disruptions have become a grim and agonisingly regular occurrence. Even in the turn of the New Year, the sector continues to face turbulence over salary adjustments and working conditions.
Recently, after 84 days of downing tools, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) suspended its nationwide strike following an agreement with the Federal Government to implement unsettled salary adjustments and other outstanding demands.
The suspension was announced in a communiqué jointly signed by JOHESU National Chairman, Mr Kabiru Ado-Minjibir, and National Secretary, Mr Martin Egbanubi.
“After exhaustive deliberations and review of the terms of settlement of the conciliation meeting, the expanded NEC-in-Session voted unanimously to suspend the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike action to allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements,” the communiqué read.
According to the communiqué, key resolutions include the commencement of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations and immediate prioritisation of outstanding issues on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
While the suspension of the strike comes as a relief to many, some stakeholders are questioning why non-implementation of agreements often triggers such strikes.
In the case of JOHESU, the strike was called on Nov. 15, 2025, as a result of the non-implementation of a 2014 demand for CONHESS adjustment and other outstanding welfare issues.
It is important to note that JOHESU only constitutes a fraction of workers’ unions in the health sector, as its membership constitutes health workers such as laboratory technicians, pharmacists, health registrars among others.
Recall that JOHESU’s counterparts in the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) only recently suspended a planned nationwide strike scheduled for Jan. 12.
The decision to suspend the strike followed negotiations with the government, but the union issued a 4-week ultimatum to address demands.
NARD is demanding the payment of 2025/2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), 25-35 per cent CONMESS arrears, and improved and safe working environments.
The suspended strike was supposed to be a follow up to NARD’s strike in late 2025 concerning unpaid salaries, poor working conditions, and inadequate infrastructure.
Also, in August 2025, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) had to force the Nigerian government to the negotiating table after a four-day strike.
The association was demanding, among other things, an end to unsafe staffing ratios, poor wages, and failure to gazette the 2016 Nurses Scheme of Service.
In the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with NANNM, the government agreed an accelerated implementation of some of the union’s demands within four weeks of the formalisation of the MoU.
Experts such as Dr Obinna Oleribe, a Public Health Management Consultant, have constantly emphasised that the first step towards ending incessant strikes by health workers is to end institutional distrust fuelled by years of unfulfilled promises.
They point out that the primary trigger for strikes is not just the demand for more money, but the failure of the government to implement signed MoU.
“What is the essence of going into an agreement with a group, signing that you will implement your side of the bargain at clearly defined timelines only for you to renegade?
“How do you want the other party to perceive you when you can’t fulfil a promise you made willingly?” a health practitioner, who prefers anonymity, asked.
He said it had become typical of the government to treat industrial disputes with a “fire brigade” approach.
He said there had to be a fundamental shift in how the government and other stakeholders approach labour relations.
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