Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have warned that they may embark on another nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government continues to delay the implementation of the long-awaited adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The warning was issued by JOHESU National Chairman and President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Mr. Kabiru Minjibir, during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Minjibir expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, describing the salary adjustment issue as one that has lingered for more than a decade despite repeated engagements between the union and government authorities.
He explained that the dispute originated from provisions contained in the salary structures introduced for medical doctors and other healthcare professionals in 2016.
“When the two salary structures were released in 2016, there was a clause that once one salary structure is reviewed upward, it automatically attracts a review of the other one,” he said.
According to him, while medical doctors under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) have benefited from three separate salary reviews, health workers on CONHESS have yet to receive a corresponding adjustment.
“Unfortunately, three reviews were done to CONMESS, which is for medical doctors, while other health workers were neglected.
“This has been the source of agitation over the last 10 years and the issue remains unresolved up to this moment,” he said.
The JOHESU leader recalled that the union had previously embarked on an industrial action over the matter and later entered discussions with the Federal Government aimed at resolving the impasse.
“When we gave an ultimatum to the Federal Government last year, there was an 84-day strike action that affected federal health institutions across the country.
“Following that action, we were invited to a meeting by the Minister of Labour and Employment alongside relevant ministries and agencies, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission,” he said.
Minjibir noted that the negotiations culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which stipulated that the salary adjustment would be implemented on or before the end of April 2026.
“It may interest you to know that up to this moment, that issue has not been addressed.
“There is already agitation among health workers across the country that another ultimatum should be issued to the government,” he said.
He, however, stated that the union was still consulting its members and stakeholders before deciding on the next line of action.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government, particularly the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to ensure the timely conclusion of this negotiation.
“The same adjustment should be extended to other health workers in the interest of justice and fairness,” he said.
Minjibir stressed that poor remuneration could undermine efficiency and service delivery within the healthcare sector.
“If health workers’ remuneration is not improved, government should not expect productivity.
“We hope government will address the issue before it gets to the point of another ultimatum or industrial action because patients are always at the receiving end whenever health workers go on strike,” he said.
Addressing allegations that non-medical health workers merely seek to enjoy benefits secured by doctors, the union leader dismissed the claims as unfounded.
“This is not true because there is job specification in the health sector and every professional should be remunerated based on his or her responsibilities.
“We are not competing with anybody. Doctors are our partners in the provision of healthcare services in the country,” he said.
He further emphasized that effective healthcare delivery depends on cooperation among all professionals within the sector.
“Health service is teamwork. Nobody can do his or her work alone.
“Our agitation is not based on what others have achieved but on the principle of justice and fairness for all health workers,” he said.
