Prepare for nationwide strike over violations of agreements, escalating provocations by FG – Health sector unions alert members

The Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (JOHESU/AHPA) has alerted its members nationwide to brace for immi­nent industrial action, citing per­sistent violations of agreements and escalating provocations from the Federal Government and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

 

In a statement signed by Kabi­ru Minjibir, Chairman, and Mar­tin Egbanubi, National Secretary, the union accused the NMA of en­gaging in what it termed as “campaign of threats and intimidation” against non-physician health professionals.

 

It further alleged that the NMA is pressuring the government to reverse key poli­cies and agreements made with JOHESU, thereby undermining industrial peace in the health sector, reports Daily Independent.

 

The dispute, which is the Oc­tober 29, 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed be­tween JOHESU and the federal government, it declared that any deviation from the MoU will not be tolerated, particularly in three critical areas: the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), full im­plementation of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre, and the up­ward review of the retirement age for health workers.

 

According to JOHESU, the NMA’s recent 21-day strike ul­timatum violates labour regu­lations requiring a minimum of 15 days’ notice for essential service providers. The union characterised the ultimatum as a “self-serving and unlawful” act rooted in longstanding hostility toward non-physician cadres.

 

The group also accused the Federal Ministry of Health of attempting to dilute the MoU’s retirement age provisions.

 

They alleged that a ministry-led com­mittee, dominated by NMA mem­bers and chaired by the Director of Hospital Services, is seeking to restrict the retirement age of 70 years to only medical and dental consultants, and to limit the 65-year benchmark to unde­fined “skilled clinical workers.” JOHESU has rejected this move, calling it a betrayal of the signed agreement.

 

The union restated their com­mendation for NLC and TUC for their recent statements back­ing equity and order within the healthcare space. Specifically, they reiterated their support for meaningful dialogue and warned against escalating tensions as divisions deepen among health sector stakeholders, particularly with the NMA.

 

Strike Ultimatum Sparks Contro­versy

 

JOHESU described the NMA’s recently issued 21-day strike ul­timatum as misaligned with the tenets of labour law governing essential services, which stipu­late a maximum 15-day notice.

 

The union contended that the demands underpinning the ultimatum — particularly the withdrawal of NSIWC circulars affecting members on the CON­HESS platform—lack procedur­al validity and threaten balance in ongoing negotiations.

 

JOHE­SU also expressed reservations about the NMA’s stance against the appointment of non-physi­cian consultants in hospitals, a development it fears may erode professional inclusivity in the sector.

 

According to JOHESU, these positions raise concerns about equity, especially given the numerical dominance of JO­HESU-affiliated professionals who constitute over 80% of the workforce.

 

Consultant Pharmacists: Global Standards Meet Local Resistance

 

The unions reaffirmed their longstanding push for recognition of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre, referencing the rigorous six-year education programmes that award Pharm.D and O.D de­grees. They highlighted the 2011 approvals spearheaded by Dr Mrs. Folasade Esan —then Head of the Civil Service — as a turning point toward professional parity. JOHESU lamented that despite a revised MoU signed in Decem­ber 2024 stipulating a March 2025 implementation deadline across Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), adherence has remained patchy.

 

The Ministry of Health, according to JOHESU, has yet to fully enforce circulars essential to realising this commitment. The union urged government leadership to address the inertia and preserve fair pathways for technical cadre advancement.

 

Retirement Age Debate Exposes Representation Imbalance

 

JOHESU expressed concern over efforts to reconfigure the retirement provisions agreed upon in the October 29, 2024 MoU, which stipulates age increments from 60 to 65 for health workers and up to 70 for consultants.

 

The union criticised the stakeholder committee formed by the Feder­al Ministry of Health (FMoH), noting disproportionate repre­sentation favouring the NMA— despite its limited numerical strength — while JOHESU and its affiliate trade unions, represent­ing the majority, were sparsely included.

 

According to JOHESU, the committee’s recommenda­tions — limiting retirement ex­tensions to medical and dental consultants — not only breach the signed MoU but contradict resolutions endorsed by Presi­dent Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council after earlier setbacks in the National Council of Establishment.

 

Defence of MoU and Call for Responsible Governance

 

As tensions mount, JOHESU has called on the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employ­ment to intervene and safeguard the integrity of union represen­tation during policy reviews.

 

The union stressed that legal provisions prohibit negotiations concerning member entitlements without direct participation of the affected unions. JOHESU assured its members that it will exhaust all lawful means to up­hold the three focal issues — the NSIWC circulars, Consultant Pharmacist cadre implementa­tion, and retirement age adjust­ments — as well as all other pro­visions contained in the October 2024 MoU.

 

Should dialogue prove unproductive, JOHESU said it re­mains prepared to initiate pro­portionate action to safeguard its members’ interests and support continuity in service delivery.

 

In a separate letter signed by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and addressed to the Coordinat­ing Minister of Health and So­cial Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, JOHESU raised alarm over what it described as delib­erate efforts by the NMA to frus­trate the MoU’s implementation.

 

The union alleged that the NMA is actively lobbying for the with­drawal of circulars that approve improved call-duty, shift, and specialist allowances for JOHE­SU members.

 

Furthermore, the union ex­pressed anger at the alleged refusal of some Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) to implement the Consultant Pharmacist cadre an initiative approved since 2011 and reaffirmed in the 2024 MoU, which sets a March 2025 deadline for nationwide implementation. JOHESU blamed the Ministry of Health for failing to enforce compliance and accused the Co­ordinating Minister of turning a blind eye to the violations.

 

JOHESU further stressed that labour laws do not permit the negotiation of union rights and benefits by external parties, and insisted that the terms of the MoU must be respected in full and warned that any attempt to amend or subvert the agreement would provoke a “proportionate and forceful response.”

 

“Let it be known that our pa­tience is not weakness,” the state­ment read.

 

“We have managed our members who make up over 80 per cent of the health work­force through moral persuasion and restraint. However, we will not stand by while the Federal Government yields to the nar­cissistic demands of the NMA.”

 

JOHESU concluded by urging the federal government to re­commit to the October 2024 MoU and avoid actions that could de­stabilize the already fragile in­dustrial harmony in the health sector and called on its members to remain vigilant and “ready  to go all out using legitimate means” to defend their rights.