…warns of fresh industrial crisis over delayed application, governance gaps
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have renewed their call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately implement the longawaited adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), constitute and inaugurate Boards of Management (BOMs) of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), and fulfil other outstanding agreements with health workers to avert another industrial crisis.
In a press statement jointly signed by JOHESU National Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Sani, and National Secretary, Comrade Martin Egbanubi, the unions described the demands as urgent, stressing that they are part of the February 15, 2026 terms of settlement that led to the suspension of JOHESU’s 84-day nationwide strike.
The unions urged President Tinubu to direct the immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment and resume and conclude negotiations on the Health Sector Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), insisting that delays have continued to undermine workers’ welfare and confidence in government commitments.
“We respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu… to direct for immediate implementation of CONHESS Adjustment, constitute and inaugurate the Boards of Management of parastatals, agencies and departments in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW) and also meet other demands of Health Workers,” the statement said.
JOHESU argued that constituting the boards has become increasingly necessary because ministries such as Education, Labour and Aviation already have functioning boards that have enhanced efficiency and productivity, while the health sector continues to suffer institutional weaknesses and poor governance.
According to the unions, the prolonged absence of governing boards has stalled accreditation of training institutions for health professionals, delayed disciplinary processes within professional councils, and prevented the approval of critical reforms and practice guidelines needed to regulate healthcare practice.
The leadership further warned that Federal Health Institutions are operating without properly constituted Boards of Management, leaving chief executive officers to shoulder governance responsibilities for more than three years without the statutory oversight required to ensure accountability and transparency.
JOHESU maintained that implementing the CONHESS adjustment, concluding the CBA negotiations and inaugurating the boards would strengthen governance, improve accountability, restore staff morale, enhance professional regulation, support the training of health workers and ultimately improve service delivery across Nigeria’s public health institutions. As the country approaches the 2027 election campaign season, the unions appealed to the President to act swiftly to prevent avoidable industrial unrest.
“It is our prayer and hope that government negligence of the Health sector will not trigger an avoidable industrial disharmony which usually makes consumers of health at the receiving end and cause avoidable disruption in health service delivery across Public Health Institutions in the country,” the statement added.
JOHESU said the next step lies with the Federal Government to urgently honour the agreements reached with health workers, warning that timely implementation remains the surest path to sustaining industrial harmony and protecting uninterrupted healthcare services nationwide.