Hospitals in limbo as JOHESU strike drags on

By Blessing Bature

Public hospitals across Nigeria remain largely paralysed as the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) enters its third month, with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare facing accusations of stalling negotiations over salary adjustments.

The dispute centres on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which JOHESU says has suffered years of distortion following the implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors, while other health professionals were left behind.

Patients—particularly women, children and vulnerable groups—continue to bear the brunt of skeletal services, delayed care and overcrowded facilities as laboratories, pharmacies, diagnostic and medical records units remain shut in many public hospitals.

Tensions escalated after the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum on 23 January, warning that failure to act would trigger a nationwide strike across both public and private sectors. 

Labour accused the ministry and related agencies of refusing to implement a 2021 technical committee report on CONHESS, describing the delay as deliberate and unjust.

JOHESU and its allies warned that if the ultimatum expires without action, organised labour will mobilise mass protests, picketing and a total withdrawal of services nationwide.

The crisis was further compounded by the government’s enforcement of a “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking workers, a move labour unions described as provocative and counterproductive to dialogue.

Hospitals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom are operating on skeletal services, forcing many patients to seek costly private care. At the National Hospital, Abuja, key departments including records and NHIS units remain closed.

In response, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare denied allegations of deliberate stalling, insisting it is committed to industrial harmony. In a statement signed by its Director of Information, Alaba Balogun, the ministry said several conciliatory meetings have been held and a framework for resolving the dispute agreed.

The ministry explained that salary adjustments would be guided by an ongoing six-month job evaluation exercise by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and urged JOHESU to suspend the strike pending its completion. 

It added that the “No Work, No Pay” issue would be handled administratively if the strike is called off.

As negotiations continue, labour leaders insist the crisis remains avoidable if the government implements the 2021 technical committee report, warning that hospitals may remain in limbo unless swift action is taken.