The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has warned of a possible fresh nationwide industrial action over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a demand the union says has remained unresolved for over a decade.

The National Chairman of JOHESU and President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Kabiru Minjibir, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Minjibir said frustration was mounting among health workers across the country following the government’s failure to honour an agreement reached after last year’s strike action.

According to him, the dispute originated from a provision contained in the salary structures introduced in 2016, which stipulated that any upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors should automatically trigger a corresponding adjustment of CONHESS for other health professionals.

He noted that while medical doctors have benefited from three salary reviews since 2016, health workers under CONHESS have yet to receive a similar adjustment.

“The imbalance has been the source of agitation among health workers for the past 10 years,” he said.

Minjibir recalled that JOHESU embarked on an 84-day strike last year, prompting intervention by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Employment and other relevant agencies, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

He said the negotiations resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, under which the government agreed to implement the salary adjustment on or before the end of April 2026.

However, he expressed disappointment that the commitment remains unfulfilled.

“Up to this moment, the issue has not been addressed, and there is growing pressure from health workers for the union to issue another ultimatum to the government,” he said.

Despite the mounting agitation, Minjibir said JOHESU was still consulting with its affiliates and stakeholders before deciding on the next course of action.

He urged the Federal Government, particularly the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to expedite efforts toward resolving the dispute and implementing the agreed salary adjustment.

The union leader warned that continued neglect of workers’ welfare could undermine productivity in the health sector and further strain healthcare delivery across the country.

He also dismissed claims that non-medical health workers were merely seeking to benefit from gains secured by medical doctors, insisting that JOHESU’s demand was rooted in fairness and adherence to existing agreements.

According to him, healthcare delivery depends on teamwork among different professionals, and all workers should be fairly compensated based on their responsibilities and contributions.

Minjibir expressed hope that the government would address the issue before it escalates into another round of industrial action, noting that patients often bear the consequences whenever health workers embark on strikes.