JOHESU Suspends 84-Day Nationwide Strike, Directs Health Workers to Resume Duties

In a major relief for Nigeria’s ailing public healthcare system, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has suspended its protracted nationwide strike that lasted 84 days, directing all members to resume work immediately.

The decision was announced on Friday, February 6, 2026, following an expanded emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja. The move comes after a conciliation meeting with the Federal Government, where both parties reached key terms of settlement.

As earlier reported by NaijaChoice News, the industrial action commenced on November 14/15, 2025, over the Federal Government’s prolonged failure to implement adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), mirroring earlier reviews granted to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical doctors since 2014. The strike paralysed operations in federal and state-owned health institutions, leaving countless patients stranded and forcing many to seek expensive alternatives in private facilities.

In a communiqué signed by National Chairman Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir and National Secretary Comrade Martin Adekunle Egbanubi, JOHESU stated that the NEC, after exhaustive deliberations on the conciliation outcomes, unanimously voted to suspend the indefinite strike to pave the way for full implementation of the agreed terms.

JOHESU directed all members across federal and state health institutions to return to work with immediate effect from midnight on February 6, 2026.

The union, however, issued a stern warning: any failure by the government to fully honour the terms would leave organised labour with no choice but to deploy lawful industrial actions once more.

JOHESU expressed deep appreciation to affiliate labour unions including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), lawmakers, traditional rulers, and ordinary Nigerians for their unwavering solidarity and support throughout the challenging period.

The suspension brings a temporary end to one of the longest health sector disruptions in recent years, which had severely strained public hospitals and highlighted deep-seated inequities in salary structures between medical doctors and other health professionals.

Patients and stakeholders now await the swift resumption of normal services and the government’s diligent implementation of the agreement to prevent future escalations in the sector.