A potential indefinite strike by health workers in Nigeria is imminent as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Allied Health Professionals Association (AHPA) threaten industrial action if their demands are not fully met by the end of the current budget cycle.
The unions, in a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting over the weekend, outlined the possibility of activating their strike plans following the expiration of a timeline for implementing key agreements.
This warning follows a series of meetings between JOHESU leadership and government representatives, including the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The discussions, which took place on December 20, 2024, aimed to avert the strike initially planned after a suspended 7-day warning strike in October 2024.
At the heart of JOHESU’s grievances is the longstanding issue of the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a matter that has remained unresolved for over 11 years. Despite the Federal Government’s promise to resolve the issue, JOHESU insists that concrete actions must be taken within the next few weeks to prevent industrial unrest.
The unions also raised concerns over the inadequate implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre, which they argue has seen a compliance rate of only 15% across 11 out of 73 federal health institutions. JOHESU has demanded that the Federal Ministry of Health impose sanctions on health institution directors who fail to comply with the directive by March 31, 2025.
In addition to salary and structural issues, the unions are pushing for a review of the retirement age for health workers. They are calling for an extension from 60 to 65 years for general health workers and 70 years for consultants, a move they argue is crucial for improving workforce sustainability in the health sector.
On a more positive note, JOHESU acknowledged the government’s progress in settling outstanding salaries, with nine out of 11 months’ worth of payments now made to members across various health regulatory bodies. However, the unions stressed the need for the restoration of funding for the Environmental Health Regulatory Council of Nigeria, which they say is critical to the primary healthcare system.
While JOHESU recognized the government’s efforts to address these issues, they issued a stern warning regarding the timely payment of the remaining seven months of arrears related to the CONHESS review. The unions emphasized that the arrears, which are included in the 2024 Appropriation Act, must be paid by December 31, 2024, or the strike action would proceed.
In the statement, JOHESU also urged the Federal Government to expedite the payment of outstanding COVID-19 hazard allowances for health workers and to resolve lingering issues surrounding the National Health Facility Regulatory Agency, which the government has reportedly put on hold.
The unions have called for the next conciliation meeting with government representatives to take place in the first week of February 2025, urging their members to remain calm and await further directives. The health workers have made it clear that if their demands are not met within the specified timelines, they will have no choice but to proceed with the indefinite strike action.
“JOHESU Expanded NEC – in – Session called on its membership to remain calm as leadership continues to tackle the various challenges at hand and awaits further directives.
13) JOHESU Expanded NEC – in – Session finally resolved that while awaiting the full implementation of the signed MoU of 29* October, 2024, JOHESU might have no other option than to activate the planned Indefinite Strike Action to press home its demands if the flagship demands are not actualized within the stipulated timelines of the budget,” the document stated.
Daily Sun
