FG Appeals to JOHESU to Suspend Strike as Review of CONHESS Is Assured

The Federal Government has urged the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to call off its ongoing strike, assuring health workers that concerns around the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) are being reviewed through due process.

Addressing the situation, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) warned against what it described as fragmented and selective narratives surrounding the dispute, noting that pressure-driven interventions by labour bodies such as the NLC and TUC will not guarantee lasting industrial harmony.

According to the association, resolving the JOHESU strike requires comprehensive engagement, good-faith negotiations and strict adherence to clearly defined professional roles within Nigeria’s health sector.

Speaking further, NMA representative Dr. Bature clarified controversies surrounding the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), stressing that there was no upgrade as widely claimed. He explained that what occurred was a correction of a long-standing distortion in the application of CONMESS, which had persisted despite prior approvals and public service guidelines.

The adjustment, he said, simply restored CONMESS to its rightful and previously approved position, adding that by technical and administrative standards, correcting an anomaly does not amount to preferential treatment or an upgrade over CONHESS.

Dr. Bature warned that misrepresenting the CONMESS correction risks fuelling unnecessary tension and inter-professional discord at a time when unity is critical to addressing Nigeria’s deep-rooted healthcare challenges.

He emphasized that the NMA remains committed to constructive dialogue, transparency and inter-professional harmony, while expressing concern over adversarial tones and public ultimatums linked to the JOHESU strike.

According to him, issues surrounding CONHESS and CONMESS demand careful verification, technical understanding and sustained institutional engagement in the overall interest of healthcare workers and the Nigerian public.