The suspension was announced after an expanded emergency meeting of JOHESU’s National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja on Friday. The meeting reviewed the outcome of a conciliation session between the union and the Federal Government, which took place a day earlier at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
JOHESU had commenced an indefinite nationwide strike on November 15, 2025, protesting what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to implement the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), alongside other unresolved welfare and systemic issues within the health sector. The action significantly disrupted healthcare delivery in public hospitals nationwide.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the NEC meeting, the union said the strike was suspended to allow time for the implementation of agreements reached during the conciliation process.
“After exhaustive deliberations and review of the terms of settlement of the conciliation meeting, the expanded NEC session voted unanimously to suspend the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike action to allow for the implementation of the FG–JOHESU terms of settlement,” the communiqué stated.
The union expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their patience throughout the prolonged industrial action, while maintaining that the strike could have been avoided.
“While appreciating the masses for their understanding throughout the period of the industrial action, we appeal to consumers of health that a recurring infliction of injustice and a huge trust deficit necessitated this unfortunate and avoidable JOHESU nationwide strike,” it said.
JOHESU also urged the Federal Government and state governments to demonstrate greater responsibility and sensitivity to workers’ welfare to prevent a recurrence of such disruptions in the future.
According to the union, several attempts were made to resolve the dispute before the strike was suspended. Review meetings were held with the Federal Ministry of Health on January 15 and January 22, during which both parties exchanged proposals aimed at resolving the impasse. The final breakthrough came during an emergency conciliation meeting convened on February 5, 2026, following a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
As part of the agreement, JOHESU said the Federal Government committed to capturing budgetary provisions for the implementation of the adjusted CONHESS in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The government also agreed to withdraw the “no work, no pay” directive and ensure the immediate payment of January 2026 salaries owed to union members.
In addition, both parties agreed that no JOHESU member who participated in the strike would be victimised or sanctioned.
With the suspension of the strike, the union said it would closely monitor the implementation of the agreed terms, stressing that sustained compliance by the government would be critical to restoring trust and stability in the health sector.