Health professionals under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) escalate their indefinite strike into its third month, demanding the full implementation of the long-delayed Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
Workers, including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and physiotherapists, halt essential services in federal hospitals, leaving patients stranded and sparking widespread outrage.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration enforces a “no work, no pay” policy since early January 2026, intensifying the standoff.
Federal officials invoke this directive, withholding salaries from striking staff, which union leaders decry as punitive and insensitive.
As a result, negotiations stall, with recent talks between the government and JOHESU ending in deadlock.
Meanwhile, hospitals across the country grapple with chaos: laboratories shutter, pharmacies empty, and diagnostic services grind to a halt, forcing doctors to manage overwhelming caseloads alone.
Patients bear the brunt of this impasse. Families rush loved ones from one facility to another, only to face closed doors or skeletal operations.
In one harrowing account, a security operative bleeds out in an emergency unit due to unavailable theater services and blood banks – all paralyzed by the strike.
Furthermore, reports emerge of preventable deaths, with vulnerable groups like dialysis patients and those needing chronic care suffering the most.
“Nigerians are dying like chickens,” laments one medical doctor on social media, highlighting the government’s apparent indifference.
Public fury boils over on platforms like X, where users accuse leaders of prioritizing foreign medical trips over domestic healthcare.
One post warns, “Don’t fall sick – the Nigerian healthcare system is a big sham,” echoing the desperation of low-income citizens reliant on public hospitals.
Additionally, activists demand nationwide rallies to pressure the government, as the strike’s toll mounts: zero admissions in many wards, postponed surgeries, and a healthcare system teetering on collapse.
In a bold escalation, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) issue a 14-day ultimatum starting January 23, 2026, threatening a broader nationwide strike if demands remain unmet.
Union presidents Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo rally support, vowing mass protests and picketing of health institutions.
This move amplifies JOHESU’s grievances, which trace back to a 2021 agreement for salary equity with doctors’ Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
However, the government’s response draws criticism for its rigidity.
Health Minister Muhammad Pate leads stalled discussions, but critics question his effectiveness amid the prolonged crisis.
As the ultimatum ticks down, experts warn of irreversible damage: brain drain accelerates, mortality rates climb, and public trust erodes.
Nigerians call for urgent resolution, urging both sides to prioritize lives over disputes.
“The poorest Nigerians are hit the hardest,” notes one analyst, emphasizing the need for increased health budgets and competitive pay to halt the exodus of professionals.
With rallies looming and potential wider industrial action, the nation holds its breath, hoping dialogue prevails before more lives slip away.
