Health services disruptions loom as JOHESU begins midnight strike

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on Friday declared an indefinite nationwide strike, effective from midnight, over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

Announcing the decision at a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union, Kabiru Minjibri, said the industrial action was expected to disrupt medical services and academic activities across the country.

He lamented that despite repeated engagements, the government had made no meaningful effort to reach an agreement with the unions or address lingering concerns.

The declaration followed a closed-door meeting convened after several ultimatums and threatened strikes by JOHESU, which accused the government of consistently reneging on key commitments.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the various unions under JOHESU, including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, among other affiliated bodies.

Minjibri noted that JOHESU had been in negotiations with the government for years, yet the core issues remained unresolved.

He expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in implementing critical agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding signed on October 29, 2024, insisting that the strike would continue until all demands were fully met.