The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has warned that it may resume industrial action if the Federal Government fails to implement agreed salary adjustments by April.
The warning follows the recent suspension of the union’s strike, which began on November 15, 2025.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, the Cross River State Chairman of JOHESU, Mr. Bassey Icha, said members had returned to work after holding congresses across their various units and branches.
Icha explained that the strike was largely triggered by the Federal Government’s failure to review the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), introduced in 2009 and yet to be adjusted.
According to him, medical doctors under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) have benefited from several salary reviews over the years, a development he said has widened the pay gap within the health sector.
“JOHESU was not demanding parity with doctors’ salaries, but was seeking a fair review based on government salary templates,” he said.
Icha added that several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed between the union and the government since 2014 had not been implemented. He noted that a 2021 memorandum forwarded to the Budget Office was yet to pass through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
He said JOHESU agreed to suspend the strike after the government appealed for more time, pending approval of a committee report expected by April.
“Failure to achieve positive outcomes by the end of April would force JOHESU back to industrial action,” Mr. Icha warned.
The union leader urged the Federal Government to prioritisetraining, provide modern equipment, and improve working conditions to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
