The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has threatened renewed industrial motion within the well being sector over the federal authorities’s failure to implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment, warning that the endurance of its members has been stretched past limits.
The union stated the federal authorities had did not honour the April 2026 implementation deadline contained within the Terms of Settlement (ToS) signed with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) following the suspension of its 84-day nationwide strike on February 5, 2026.
MHWUN president, Comrade Kabiru Ado Sani, gave the warning whereas addressing the union’s 52nd National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.
He stated the federal government’s continued delay in implementing the settlement, regardless of the suspension of the strike, was threatening industrial concord within the well being sector.
Sani stated JOHESU had demonstrated appreciable restraint and remained dedicated to dialogue, however warned that the union’s peaceable disposition shouldn’t be mistaken for weak point or an abandonment of its calls for.
He positioned accountability for stopping one other spherical of commercial motion on the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Minister of Labour and Employment, urging them to urgently resolve the excellent points.
According to him, the final strike was suspended on the power of a signed settlement and never deserted, stressing that the Federal Government remained obligated to implement the commitments it made.
He stated, “The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has remained a potent instrument within the battle for higher welfare for well being employees and improved funding of the well being sector.
CONHESS adjustment is one demand that’s central to JOHESU’s battle within the final 13 (13) years. This demand has led to many strike actions, the final being the historic 84-day strike motion which was suspended on fifth February 2026 on the power of a signed Terms of Settlement (ToS) with the Federal Government.”
“Regrettably, the federal authorities appears to not have learnt any lesson from the final strike motion because it has continued to tug and delay the matter in opposition to the spirit of the Terms of Settlement. The April 2026 date that was promised for implementation has handed with out the CONHESS adjustment.
JOHESU has proven larger understanding, however it appears that evidently our peaceable disposition is being taken with no consideration.
While we stay open and proceed to interact authorities, you will need to word that the final strike was suspended, not known as off or deserted.
The accountability rests on the shoulders of the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Honourable Minister of Labour to stop one other spherical of commercial motion that’s imminent within the well being sector because the endurance of our members has been stretched past restrict.”
“Government ought to perceive that nothing is costlier than a signed settlement that isn’t honoured, because it prices the State its credibility and it prices the affected person high quality care.
Our case is straightforward, and it’s a authorized one as a lot as an ethical one. A collective settlement signed by the Federal Government is an obligation of the State. It doesn’t lapse when a tenure ends, and no incoming administration is entitled to deal with it because the debt of its predecessor.
Whoever is said winner after sixteenth January will inherit the CONHESS desk, the arrears and the unconcluded negotiations, together with the Treasury.”
He additionally disclosed that JOHESU was demanding cost of excellent arrears owed to its members, together with employees in non-hospital-based well being establishments and companies, in addition to the inauguration of boards of federal well being establishments.
On the challenges confronting well being employees, Sani known as for improved funding of the well being sector, higher welfare packages and pressing measures to handle the rising migration of healthcare professionals from the nation.
He stated the 2026 Appropriation Act supplied N2.48 trillion for well being, representing lower than 5 per cent of the nationwide finances, in opposition to Nigeria’s dedication to allocate 15 per cent of its annual finances to the sector underneath the Abuja Declaration.
Citing figures attributed to the management of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), he stated greater than 130,000 docs had been registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, however solely about 55,000 had been practising within the nation.
He additionally cited the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) as reporting that greater than 57,000 Nigerian nurses had left the nation inside 5 years.
According to him, the continued departure of healthcare professionals was a consequence of continual underfunding, poor welfare, mismanagement and unsafe working environments somewhat than a betrayal of the nation.
The MHWUN president urged the federal authorities to match its budgetary commitments with concrete motion, prioritise employees’ welfare and place well being funding on first-line cost.
On the financial scenario, he known as for the renegotiation of the nationwide minimal wage and substantial palliatives to cushion the results of rising dwelling prices on employees.
He famous that though headline inflation declined to 14.63 per cent in September 2026 from 20.98 per cent a yr earlier, the discount had not translated into decrease costs of meals and different important commodities.
Sani additionally urged well being employees to take an energetic curiosity within the 2027 basic election, insisting that the union would stay politically impartial and wouldn’t endorse or finance any political social gathering or candidate.
He, nonetheless, maintained that the result of the election would have vital implications for the welfare and dealing situations of well being employees.
He stated any authorities rising from the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections would inherit the excellent CONHESS settlement, arrears and unresolved negotiations.
He maintained that collective agreements signed by the federal authorities remained binding obligations of the state and shouldn’t be discarded following a change of administration.
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