The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has called off its statewide strike, which began 84 days ago.
The union said this in a statement yesterday after its larger National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was called to talk about the results of a meeting between the federal government and JOHESU that took place on Thursday at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment’s headquarters, according to the communiqué.
The expanded NEC-in-Session voted unanimously to suspend the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike action to allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements after extensive discussions and review of the terms of settlement of the conciliation meeting.
“While we thank the people for their understanding during the industrial action, we ask health consumers to understand that this JOHESU nationwide strike was necessary because of ongoing injustice and a lack of trust.”We hope that the federal government and various state governments would be both kind and responsible in making sure that Nigerians don’t have to go through this much pain again in the near future.
The strike, which reached its 84th day on Friday, has stopped all work in government-run hospitals across the country. This has left patients stuck and forced them to get basic medical care outside of public health institutions.
JOHESU thanked the people and organizations that helped solve the problem.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the heads of the health committees in both the Senate and House, hospital CEOs, professional groups, and traditional leaders, especially the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, are all part of this.
The union also hailed the leaders of the NLC and TUC for their support and solidarity, as well as its members in the MHWUN, NUAHP, SSAUTHRIAI, and NASU unions for what it called their strength and dedication during the strike.
The long strike has also led to a 14-day ultimatum from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in support of the health workers.
Indefinite Strike
In November 2025, JOHESU announced an extended strike action that would last until the new integrated health salary system was put into place.
Kabiru Minjibir, the National Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union, spoke at a press conference in Abuja and warned that the planned strike would likely affect medical services and school activities all over the country.
He says that the government hasn’t tried to strike an arrangement with the unions.
The decision came after a private meeting where JOHESU threatened to go on strike and gave the administration a series of ultimatums. They said the government had not kept its end of the deal.
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