JOHESU’s strike enters 62nd day, threatens healthcare system 

….As members insists on an 11-year unmet demands

The 15th of January, 2026 marked the 62nd day of the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), one of the longest nationwide strikes in a decade, according to BusinessDay’s findings.

A similar long-duration strike embarked upon by the association occurred in 2014, between November 16, 2014 and February 2, 2015. Other strikes have been between 3 and 44 days, BusinessDay findings revealed.

Despite the memo signed by the federal government on January 8, 2026 to enforce the ‘no work, no pay’ policy against members of JOHESU and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals, members of the association have insisted on continuing with the strike.

Following an emergency virtual meeting of the union’s national leadership held on Monday, January 12, 2026, the majority of JOHESU’s affiliate unions voted to sustain the strike, rejecting what it described as attempts to intimidate workers into submission, according to a memo signed by the association’s secretary, Martins Egbanubi.

“The strike continues in line with majority decisions as reflected in the congress reports so far received at the national secretariat,” Egbanubi stated in the memo.

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“The ‘no work, no pay’ policy is the usual tool used to intimidate workers into submission,” he added.

Felix Odusanya, president of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy and a member of JOHESU, reiterated the decade-long unmet demands by the federal government as the reason for the prolonged strike action during an interview with this reporter.

“JOHESU’s salary structure has not been reviewed since 2014 — about 11 years now — despite the agreement reached between the federal government and the association,” Odusanya stated.

“Aside from food, many of us can’t even pay house rent or children’s school fees with the current salary structure,” he added.

JOHESU’s demands include the approval and circularisation of an upward review of the CONHESS salary structure, payment of outstanding arrears arising from CONHESS, the employment of additional personnel to strengthen the health sector, the release of circulars effecting the review of the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, and the full implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) judgments in favour of JOHESU members.

Winners, losers of incessant strikes

Patients, taxpayers and the country’s economy are the main losers of these incessant strikes, according to sources.

“Patients bear the huge brunt of these strikes, as many have to be referred to other private hospitals, which are usually more expensive,” a source said.

Taxpayers also suffer because they do not get value for the taxes they pay as a result of the strike. By extension, the economy also suffers, and medical tourism continues to persist.

On the other hand, the affluent, as well as people who can afford to get treated outside the country, are not affected by the strikes.

“JOHESU forms the backbone of the health workforce. They are the lab scientists, physiotherapists, psychiatrists and many more,” noted Stephanie Omoarebun, secretary of the Young Medical Laboratory Scientists Forum.

Dr. Faith Donatus is a climate change expert, a seasoned researcher with over 15 years of experience and a two-time award winner for contributing to research by the International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation.

With a PhD in Environmental Pollution and Control, Faith is passionate about transforming Nigeria's food and public health systems through deep research, data-driven analysis, deducing solution-based insights to challenges impacting Nigeria's food and health systems.

At Businessday, she is a real sector correspondent, covering health and agricultural beats.

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