The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has lifted the “No Work, No Pay” embargo on health workers’ salaries following the suspension of the nationwide strike by members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
A memo obtained by our correspondent, signed by Dafeta Tetshoma, Director in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, directed the removal of the salary stoppage.
“Further to the letter Ref. No. HMSH&SW/AGF/NOWORK,NO PAY/JOHESU/01 dated 9th January, 2026, on the above subject (copy attached), I am directed to inform you that following the resolutions and terms of settlement reached on Thursday, 5th February, 2026, between the Federal Government and the Joint Health Sector Unions, alongside the leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress, the union has agreed to suspend the strike which commenced on 15th November, 2025, with immediate effect,” the memo stated.
The memo further noted, “I am to further inform you that, in line with the commitment to industrial harmony in the health sector, government has also agreed to immediately withdraw the earlier directive issued for the stoppage of the January 2026 salary of JOHESU members as a consequence of enforcing the Federal Government’s ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, and has directed the payment of the January 2026 salary to all JOHESU members without further delay.
“In view of the foregoing, the Ministry kindly requests the Accountant-General of the Federation to, as a matter of urgency, issue the necessary directive to the IPPIS Office for the immediate payment of the suspended January 2026 salaries to all JOHESU members in federal tertiary health institutions, as part of the government’s reciprocity.
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“Please accept the kind regards of the Permanent Secretary,” the Director added.
JOHESU had suspended their 84-day nationwide strike on February 6, 2026, after reaching a new agreement with the Federal Government. The industrial action, which began on November 15, 2025, was initially triggered by the non-implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure.
The lifting of the salary embargo ensures that health workers receive their January 2026 pay promptly, marking a key step toward resolving the dispute and restoring industrial harmony in the health sector.