By Micah Jonah
January 25, 2026
The Federal Government has introduced a framework aimed at resolving the prolonged industrial dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, assuring health workers that the long awaited review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS, remains under active consideration.
The government’s response followed a joint statement by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, which accused the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of deliberately failing to implement the 2021 report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS adjustment.
In a press release signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, the ministry dismissed claims of intentional inaction on the committee’s report or discrimination against any category of health workers, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment towards maintaining industrial harmony in the health sector.
The ministry disclosed that several conciliatory meetings have been held with JOHESU since the strike began, both at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, despite the Union’s decision to seek intervention from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Addressing the No Work No Pay policy, the ministry stated that should JOHESU suspend the strike in good faith, that the matter would be handled administratively. It also expressed readiness to continue engaging the NLC and TUC in subsequent negotiations.
The Federal Government emphasized its resolve to achieve a fair, lasting resolution through dialogue, mutual respect, equity across all professional cadres in the health sector.
