By Doris Obinna

Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government over its failure to meet long-standing demands, particularly regarding salary adjustments and implementation of key reforms.

The warning follows a series of high-level meetings held between July 30 and August 1, 2025, involving JOHESU leadership and officials from the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, and Health and Social Welfare.

In a communiqué signed by the National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir and National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, JOHESU expressed deep dissatisfaction with what it described as the government’s lack of commitment to implementing critical agreements, especially the adjustment and arrears in the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). The union criticized the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS) for ignoring its core demand since June 2023, despite earlier presidential intervention.

While the Minister of Labour and Employment pledged significant progress within three weeks; including collaboration with the Minister of Finance, JOHESU warned that any further delay in the payment of salary arrears from June to December 2023 would not be tolerated. The union accepted assurances that the arrears would be paid in August 2025 but emphasized that failure to do so could jeopardize industrial harmony.

JOHESU also condemned the suspension of recent circulars on allowances for CONHESS health workers, accusing the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) of undue interference and breach of the Trade Unions Act. It urged the government to reverse the suspension and respect the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding ensuring parity between CONHESS and CONMESS benefits.

The union decried the slow implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre in federal health institutions, with only 28.76% compliance, and demanded full enforcement within one week. It further criticized the lack of progress in raising the retirement age for health workers and consultants, urging immediate issuance of circulars by relevant authorities.

JOHESU highlighted the plight of staff at the Environmental Health Regulatory Council, who have reportedly not been paid for 19 months, and called for urgent action to reinstate the council in the national budget and settle arrears dating back to 2014.

On professional allowances, the union expressed frustration over delays in implementing agreed entry points and call duty allowances for holders of Pharm. D and Doctor of Optometry degrees, though it acknowledged recent progress by the Ministry of Health and IPPIS.

It also raised alarm over the failure to reconstitute boards of management for federal health institutions and regulatory councils, insisting that the delay is unjustified and must be urgently addressed.

Backing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in their criticism of the government’s repeated breach of collective agreements, JOHESU vowed to resist any further acts of discrimination or bad faith.

The union thanked key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, lawmakers, and labour leaders, for helping de-escalate tensions during the recent meetings. However, it resolved to hold the government to the August deadline for arrears payment and other key agreements. Failure to comply, it warned, would force JOHESU’s Expanded NEC to declare a trade dispute in concert with the NLC and TUC, in accordance with the Trade Disputes Act. Members nationwide were urged to remain on high alert for possible industrial action.

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