JOHESU embarks on indefinite nationwide strike over 12-year delay in salary adjustment

JOHESU embarks on indefinite nationwide strike over 12-year delay in salary adjustment

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has launched an indefinite nationwide strike over the Federal Government’s prolonged failure to implement the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a process the unions say has been pending for 12 years.

Announcing the industrial action on Friday in Abuja, JOHESU National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, said the decision followed a unanimous resolution at the union’s Expanded National Executive Council meeting, directing all affiliate unions in federal health institutions to withdraw their services from midnight.

Minjibir lamented that since 2014, the unions had attended several negotiation and conciliation meetings with government officials without any meaningful progress, despite multiple commitments and signed agreements.

He expressed disappointment that the Federal Government had yet to act on the High-Level Body report on CONHESS submitted in 2022, a development he said had worsened the frustration of health workers who had consistently embraced dialogue and patience.

READ ALSO:

• Kperogi debunks online claims linking Naval Officer Yerima to retired Gen. M.M. Yerima
• The ‘fool’ who stopped Wike
• BREAKING: Court stops PDP National Convention, orders inclusion of Sule Lamido

“This 12-year delay is unacceptable. Health workers have shown maturity and patriotism, but government inaction has made this strike inevitable,” he said.
“Our members will remain on strike until the adjusted CONHESS structure is fully implemented. We cannot continue working under a violated agreement.”

He also revealed that JOHESU state councils have been directed to issue a 15-day strike notice to their respective state governments in line with labour regulations, assuring that the national leadership would support any resultant actions.

While apologising to Nigerians for the disruption the strike may cause, Minjibir said the unions were left with no option following continual delays. He warned against intimidation or harassment of members participating in the industrial action.

Minjibir reiterated JOHESU’s readiness for immediate negotiations, stressing that prompt implementation of the CONHESS adjustment could lead to a suspension of the strike.

He urged the government to prioritise the welfare of health workers, noting that timely resolution of labour disputes was essential to sustaining quality healthcare delivery and national stability.

JOHESU embarks on indefinite nationwide strike over 12-year delay in salary adjustment