The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have placed their members on alert and ordered mobilisation across federal health institutions for possible industrial action, over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). The decision followed a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday, 29 October 2026, according to Vanguard.
What JOHESU is demanding
CONHESS is the salary structure for most non-doctor health workers in Nigeria’s public service, including nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, radiographers, physiotherapists and administrative staff in hospitals. JOHESU says the adjustment of CONHESS has been unresolved for about 13 years.
The union points to 5 June 2023, when President Bola Tinubu promised the adjustment and the Federal Ministry of Health forwarded a 2021 technical committee report to the Budget Office. JOHESU says the adjustment has still not been paid.
Who is involved
- Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN)
- Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP)
- Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI)
- Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), including its technical arm
The statement was signed by JOHESU National Chairman Kabiru Minjibir and National Secretary Martin Egbanubi. Members were urged to remain peaceful while awaiting further directives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which have issued their own ultimatum to the Federal Government.
What it means for nurses
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) is not listed among the unions in this JOHESU statement. NANNM runs its own negotiations with government. But nurses are paid on CONHESS, so any adjustment directly affects nurses’ salaries, and any JOHESU strike will change daily work on the wards.
- Your pay: a CONHESS adjustment would raise salaries across grade levels for nurses in federal institutions. Some states, such as Kwara, have already approved a corrected CONHESS for their workers.
- Your workload: if pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other JOHESU members walk out, nurses who remain on duty often face pressure to cover tasks outside their scope. Know your scope of practice and document what you can and cannot safely do.
- Patient safety: during past strikes, patients were discharged or turned away. Plan safe discharge, clear handover and referral early if a strike is announced.
What happens next
JOHESU has not announced a strike date. The next step depends on directives from the NLC and TUC and on whether the Federal Government releases funds for the adjustment. We will update this story when a date or deal is announced.
Frequently asked questions
What is CONHESS?
CONHESS (Consolidated Health Salary Structure) is the pay scale for health workers in Nigeria’s public service other than doctors, who are paid on CONMESS. It covers nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other health professionals.
Has JOHESU declared a strike?
Not yet. As of 5 November 2026, JOHESU has placed members on alert and ordered mobilisation, but no strike date has been fixed.
Are nurses part of JOHESU?
NANNM is not named in this statement. Nurses in some institutions belong to other JOHESU unions, and all nurses on CONHESS would benefit from an adjustment.
Related reading: Kwara approves corrected CONHESS for nurses · Katsina health workers issue strike warning · Bill proposes jail for denying emergency care
Source: Vanguard.
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