The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (AHPA) have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently fulfil outstanding agreements reached with health workers, warning that continued delays could disrupt healthcare services and trigger another round of industrial unrest.
The unions appealed to the President to immediately implement the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), inaugurate the Boards of Management of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), and address other unresolved issues contained in the agreement that ended JOHESU’s 84-day nationwide strike earlier this year.
In a joint statement signed by JOHESU National Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Sani, and National Secretary, Comrade Martin Egbanubi, the unions noted that although the Federal Government signed a Terms of Settlement with JOHESU on February 15, 2026, several key commitments are yet to be implemented.
Among the pending issues, they said, are the implementation of the CONHESS salary adjustment and the resumption and conclusion of negotiations on the Health Sector Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The unions also expressed concern over the Federal Government’s failure to inaugurate the Boards of Management of agencies, departments and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
According to JOHESU, while governing boards have already been inaugurated in ministries such as Education, Labour and Aviation, the health sector has continued to operate without its statutory boards.
The union argued that the absence of these boards has weakened institutional oversight, delayed critical decisions and affected accountability across federal health institutions and regulatory agencies.
It further explained that several professional councils have been unable to fully perform their statutory responsibilities, including the accreditation of training institutions, approval of professional practice guidelines and disciplinary proceedings, because governing councils and disciplinary tribunals have not been properly constituted.
JOHESU also noted that chief executives of Federal Health Institutions have continued to shoulder responsibilities that should ordinarily be shared with governing boards, creating administrative and governance challenges across the sector.
Calling on President Tinubu to intervene, the union said:
“We respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, constitute and inaugurate the Boards of Management of parastatals, agencies and departments in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and meet other outstanding demands of health workers.”
The union warned that the prolonged delay has continued to weaken governance in the health sector and urged the Federal Government to resolve the issues before political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
JOHESU also cautioned that failure to honour the agreements could lead to fresh industrial disputes that would ultimately affect millions of Nigerians who rely on public healthcare services.
“It is our prayer and hope that government negligence of the health sector will not trigger an avoidable industrial disharmony which usually leaves consumers of healthcare at the receiving end and causes avoidable disruption in health service delivery across public health institutions in the country,” the statement added.
The latest appeal adds to growing pressure on the Federal Government to fulfil its commitments to health workers and strengthen governance within Nigeria’s public health system.
