Two conciliation meetings, no progress: Inside JOHESU’s standoff with FG

Nigeria’s public health system has entered one of its most crippling moments in recent years as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) maintains its indefinite nationwide strike, following two failed conciliation meetings with the federal government.

The industrial action, which began at midnight on November 14, has left hospitals across the country deserted, primary healthcare centres abandoned, and critical services grounded.

A visit to Ogudu Primary Healthcare Centre in Lagos captures the magnitude of the disruption. The usually busy facility was completely empty with no staff, no patients and no activity. “I was confused at first, wondering why. That was when I realised JOHESU had not called off its strike,” a resident told BusinessDay

Similar scenes are being reported nationwide. For instance, a middle-aged patient living with a chronic illness told BusinessDay that she was turned back at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and advised to seek care at a private facility because of the ongoing JOHESU strike. She had arrived early in the morning, only to be told that JOHESU is on strike. “They told me there was nothing they could do and that I should try a private hospital, but I cannot afford private care. I don’t even know where to start,” she said, visibly distressed.

Her experience reflects the dilemma thousands of patients with long-term conditions now face as public hospitals struggle under the weight of overlapping strikes. Without access to regular monitoring, medication refills, or diagnostic tests, patients managing illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell disease, cancer, and kidney disorders are at high risk of deterioration. “If the government and the unions don’t resolve this quickly, many of us will suffer complications we should never have had. It is frightening because my life depends on this treatment, and now I’ve been left on my own,” the patient added.

In an exclusive interview with BusinessDay, Comrade Martin Egbanubi, the national secretary of the JOHESU, said the strike is rooted in a single unresolved issue: the implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). According to him, contrary to public perception, the unions are not presenting a long list of demands.

“Our position is very clear. We want the government to implement the CONHESS adjustment as quickly as possible. We already have the circular, the salary table, and the worked-out payment plan. This issue has been on the table since 2014,” he said.

Egbanubi confirmed that two conciliation meetings have been held since the dispute was declared, both chaired by the minister of Labour or the permanent secretary, but ended in complete deadlock. “We entered conciliation as required by law, but the meetings yielded no progress,” he said.

JOHESU, which represents about 85 percent of Nigeria’s health workforce, includes pharmacists, physiotherapists, laboratory scientists, health technologists, administrative personnel, and other allied health professionals. Their absence explains why hospitals appear to be in total shutdown.

“Our members constitute the bulk of the workforce in all federal and state hospitals. So when we withdraw services, everywhere is grounded,” Egbanubi stated

Read also: New national industrial relation policy negates workers’ right – JOHESU

LASUTH CMD: “Almost all activities grounded — Patients are the ones suffering”

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), one of the busiest tertiary hospitals in the country, is facing a near-total collapse of operations.

In an interview with BusinessDay, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the chief medical director (CMD) of LASUTH confirmed that the strike has paralysed services across the institution.

“The JOHESU strike has grounded almost all activities at the hospital. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had done its own recently, and now JOHESU. It is the patients they are punishing. They are the ones that suffer the most,” the CMD said.

He warned that Nigeria’s healthcare sector cannot sustain back-to-back industrial actions without grave humanitarian consequences.

“Let us not forget: the patients could be anyone, even members of their own families. We therefore appeal to the unions to find a common ground with the government for the sake of the patients,” he added.

The CMD acknowledged that workers have legitimate demands but urged both sides to show flexibility to avert further loss of lives, missed treatments, and worsening public health indicators.

A history of delays and broken promises

The current standoff stems from the government’s failure to implement the adjusted CONHESS despite multiple assurances and signed agreements.

JOHESU says the government has dragged its feet since the High-Level Body (HLB) Committee submitted its report on the salary adjustment to the Presidential Committee on Salaries and Wages in 2022. Despite assurances from President Bola Tinubu during a meeting with JOHESU leaders in June 2023, the matter remains unresolved.

The unions accused successive administrations of neglecting their concerns and noted that earlier strikes were suspended in June 2023 and October 2024 after presidential interventions and the signing of memoranda of understanding, agreements they say were never honoured.

“We have shown maturity and patriotism, but it seems our maturity has been taken for granted,” Egbanubi averred.

For now, JOHESU insists its position remains unchanged. “Nigerians should appeal to the federal government to meet our demand. Once the CONHESS adjustment is implemented, we will return to work,” Egbanubi demanded.

But as hospitals remain silent and patients continue to bear the brunt, the urgency for a resolution has never been greater.

The LASUTH CMD’s plea, echoed by patients across the country, underscores the human cost of the stalemate: “For the sake of Nigerians who need care, both the government and JOHESU must find common ground. The patient must not continue to pay the price.”

Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date