FG Denies Salary Bias, Urges JOHESU to Call Off Strike as Talks Continue

Assures Review of CONHESS

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

The Federal Government has dismissed allegations of discrimination and deliberate delay in adjusting health workers’ salaries, reaffirming its commitment to industrial harmony in the health sector amid the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

In a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said it had taken note of a joint statement by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the trade dispute between the ministry and JOHESU, which led to the strike that began on 14 November 2025.

“The Ministry reiterates and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to sustaining industrial harmony within Nigeria’s health sector. There is absolutely no truth in the allegations of deliberate refusal to implement the Technical Committee’s report, nor is there any discrimination against any category of health workers,” the statement said.

JOHESU had issued an ultimatum demanding an adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in line with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), citing the 2021 report of a Technical Committee. Labour centres further alleged that failure to implement the report amounted to institutional disrespect to health workers.

However, the ministry said the Federal Government had held “several conciliatory meetings with JOHESU, both at the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, aimed at resolving the dispute amicably.”

It disclosed that a “high-level conciliatory meeting convened on Thursday 15 January 2026… formed part of sustained efforts by the Federal Government to de-escalate tensions and arrive at a mutually acceptable resolution,” adding that a “tentative understanding” was reached with JOHESU at that meeting.

According to the ministry, JOHESU proposed the implementation of the 2021 Technical Sub-Committee report recommending an adjustment of CONHESS and also demanded the withdrawal of the “No Work, No Pay” circular.

In response, the ministry appealed to the unions to maintain the status quo pending the conclusion of an ongoing job evaluation exercise by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), which began in November 2025 and is expected to last six months.

“The job evaluation exercise… will pave the way for discussions on salary adjustments as well as the reconvening of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA),” the ministry said.

On the issue of “No Work, No Pay,” the ministry stated that “if JOHESU calls off the strike in good faith, the matter would be handled administratively in its entirety.”

To further demonstrate its commitment to industrial peace, the ministry said it was willing to continue engaging with the NLC and TUC and disclosed that two additional meetings were held on 20 and 22 January 2026 to conclude on issues agreed at the January 15 meeting.

“Against this backdrop, the Ministry notes that when these sustained engagements are contextualised against the ultimatum issued by the NLC and TUC, there is a clear mismatch,” the statement added.

The ministry also highlighted that the demand for CONHESS adjustment has persisted for over a decade and that JOHESU members had recently benefited from improved allowances.

“JOHESU is a part beneficiary of the recent increase in professional allowances of health workers amounting to about 58 billion naira in arrears from July 2024 and about 40 billion on an annual basis to JOHESU members,” it said.

Reaffirming government’s resolve, the ministry stressed that the current administration is determined to resolve the dispute “in a manner that safeguards uninterrupted healthcare delivery, promotes team spirit and equity across professional cadres, and reinforces industrial harmony for the long-term good of the country.”

The ministry therefore urged JOHESU “to call off the strike and allow negotiations to continue in the interest of the health sector and the Nigerian public,” while commending health professionals who have remained at work.

“Finally, the Management… wishes to extend its deep appreciation of other health professionals who are still at work, saving lives. We will continue all efforts to ensure that Federal Hospitals remain open,” the statement concluded.