The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has called off its nationwide strike, 84 days after it began, following a review of the recent Federal Government-JOHESU conciliation meeting.
The decision was taken at the end of an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting held in Abuja on Friday. JOHESU said the strike has been suspended to “allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements.”
The industrial action, which started on November 15, 2025, had paralysed activities in government hospitals nationwide, leaving patients stranded and forcing many to seek medical care in private facilities. JOHESU, which represents health workers in pharmacies, laboratories, and other support services, had maintained that the strike would continue until the Federal Government implements the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of CONHESS.
The protracted strike had also prompted a 14-day ultimatum from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in solidarity with the health workers.
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Speaking on the outcome of the conciliation meeting, JOHESU noted that several key agreements were reached, including:
• “The ongoing CBA negotiation shall be structured to appraise all identified defects, gaps and implementation failures, especially between 2009 and 2026.”
• “Outstanding issues connected to the implementation of the adjustment of CONHESS shall kick start the CBA under the exclusive auspices of JOHESU members without any delay.”
• “Budgetary allocation to take care of the implementation of the adjustment of CONHESS must form a cardinal part and projection of the 2026 Appropriation Act based on the existing template provided by the Technical Committee report of the High-level body of the Federal Government set-up by the FMoH in 2021.”
• “Immediate withdrawal of the ‘NO WORK, NO PAY’ directive issued in relation to the JOHESU strike. Sequel to the above, the January 2026 salaries of JOHESU members must be paid immediately.”
• “No member of JOHESU/AHPA that participated in this current strike shall be victimized, sanctioned or intimidated on the basis of their involvement in the strike.”
After thorough deliberations, the expanded NEC voted unanimously to suspend the strike, allowing the terms of the settlement to be implemented.
In its statement, JOHESU also expressed gratitude to key figures and institutions that helped resolve the impasse. Among those acknowledged were Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senate President; Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health; Hon. Amos Magaji, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions; the leadership of various professional bodies; traditional rulers, notably the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Enitan, Ojaja II; and the national leadership of NLC and TUC.
The union thanked Nigerians for their patience and understanding during the strike, noting that “a recurring infliction of injustice and a huge trust deficit necessitated the unfortunate and avoidable JOHESU nationwide strike.”
JOHESU concluded by urging the Federal and state governments to act responsibly to prevent similar disruptions in the future, stating, “We hope that the Federal Government, as well as other state governments, show both sensitivity and responsibility in ensuring Nigerians avoid this depth of suffering in the foreseeable future.”