The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has warned that it may embark on a new industrial action due to the Federal Government’s continued delay in implementing the long-awaited adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Kabiru Minjibir, National Chairman of JOHESU and President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, made this known in an interview with journalists during the 114th International Labour Conference held on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland.
Minjibir explained that the failure to resolve the issue of salary adjustment has been a major source of concern for health workers for over a decade, despite repeated discussions with the government. He noted that the problem began with provisions made in 2016, when separate salary structures were introduced for medical doctors (CONMESS) and other health professionals (CONHESS).
According to Minjibir, both salary structures included a clause stipulating that any upward review of one should automatically trigger a similar review of the other. However, while the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure for doctors has been reviewed three times since then, the corresponding adjustment for other health workers under CONHESS has yet to be implemented.
“Three reviews have been carried out for medical doctors under CONMESS, but other health workers have been left out. This has fuelled agitation over the past 10 years, and the matter remains unresolved,” he stated.
Minjibir recalled that JOHESU embarked on a strike last year to press for the adjustment, which led to negotiations with the Federal Government. “After we issued an ultimatum last year, there was an 84-day strike that disrupted services at federal health institutions nationwide. Following the strike, the Minister of Labour and Employment, along with other relevant ministries and agencies, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, invited us to a meeting,” he said.
He added that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the meeting, with an agreement that the salary adjustment would be implemented on or before the end of April 2026. “As of now, that commitment has not been fulfilled. There is growing agitation among health workers across the country to issue a fresh ultimatum to the government,” Minjibir warned.
He noted that the union was still consulting widely before deciding on further industrial action. “I want to urge the Federal Government, especially the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to ensure the timely conclusion of this negotiation. The same adjustment should be extended to all health workers in the interest of justice and fairness,” he said.
Minjibir cautioned that failure to improve workers’ remuneration could hurt productivity in the health sector. “If health workers’ pay is not improved, the government should not expect productivity. We hope the issue is addressed before another ultimatum or strike becomes necessary, as patients always suffer most during such actions,” he said.
Responding to claims that non-medical health workers are merely seeking to benefit from gains secured by doctors, Minjibir dismissed the notion as inaccurate. “That’s not true. Every profession in the health sector has its job specification, and remuneration should be based on responsibility. We are not competing with anyone. Doctors are our partners in delivering healthcare services, he said.
He emphasized that healthcare delivery is a collective effort requiring teamwork among all professionals. Our agitation is not about what others have achieved, but about justice and fairness for all health workers, Minjibir concluded.
NAN
