By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to reviewing the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun. The statement was in response to a joint release by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on the dispute between the ministry and JOHESU.
Balogun dismissed allegations that the ministry deliberately refused to implement the report of the Technical Committee on the adjustment of CONHESS submitted in 2021, describing the claims as false and misleading.
He said the ministry remained committed to sustaining industrial harmony in the health sector and insisted there was no discrimination against any category of health workers.
JOHESU had embarked on an indefinite strike on November 14, 2025, demanding that CONHESS be adjusted in line with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure. However, the ministry stated that since the commencement of the strike, the Federal Government had held several conciliatory meetings with the unions at both the Ministries of Health and Labour to resolve the dispute amicably, despite JOHESU approaching the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
According to the statement, a high-level meeting convened on January 15 formed part of sustained efforts to de-escalate tensions, during which the ministry reached a tentative understanding with JOHESU on a framework for resolving the dispute. At the meeting, the unions proposed the implementation of the 2021 Technical Sub-Committee report, which recommended an adjustment of CONHESS, and also demanded the withdrawal of the “No Work, No Pay” circular.
In response, the ministry appealed to JOHESU to maintain the status quo to allow the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to conclude an ongoing job evaluation exercise aimed at determining appropriate placement for all health professionals. The exercise, which began in November 2025, is expected to last six months and would pave the way for further discussions on salary adjustments and the reconvening of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Balogun noted that the decision to maintain the status quo took into account differing positions among unions and associations in the sector based on previous agreements with the Federal Government.
On the “No Work, No Pay” policy, the ministry said the issue would be addressed administratively if JOHESU called off the strike in good faith. It also expressed willingness to continue engaging with the NLC and TUC in the dialogue process.
The ministry added that further meetings were held during the week to conclude issues agreed upon at the January 15 meeting, with the aim of getting JOHESU to suspend the strike. It noted that demands for CONHESS adjustment had remained unresolved for over a decade, spanning previous administrations.
The government, however, highlighted that JOHESU members recently benefited from increased professional allowances for health workers, amounting to about ₦58 billion in arrears from July 2024 and approximately ₦40 billion annually.
Balogun reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving lasting industrial peace in the health sector through dialogue and fairness, urging JOHESU to call off the strike in the interest of public health. He also commended health professionals who continued to work during the strike, assuring that efforts were ongoing to keep federal hospitals operational.
