The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has warned of a possible nationwide industrial action over the Federal Government’s failure to implement the long-awaited adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers.

The National Chairman of JOHESU and President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Mr Kabiru Minjibir, issued the warning during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on Tuesday.

Minjibir expressed concern that the salary adjustment issue had remained unresolved for more than a decade despite repeated engagements between the union and the Federal Government.

He explained that the dispute originated from a provision contained in the salary structures introduced for medical doctors and other health professionals in 2016, which stipulated that any upward review of one salary structure should automatically trigger a corresponding adjustment of the other.

According to him, while the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical doctors has been reviewed three times since 2016, health workers under CONHESS have yet to benefit from any corresponding adjustment.

“The repeated reviews of CONMESS without similar treatment for CONHESS have been a major source of dissatisfaction among health workers over the past 10 years,” he said.

Minjibir recalled that JOHESU embarked on an industrial action last year to press home its demands, leading to negotiations with the Federal Government involving the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

He noted that the discussions resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), under which the government agreed to implement the salary adjustment on or before April 2026.

However, he said the commitment had not been fulfilled, fueling growing discontent among health workers nationwide.

“Many of our members are already calling for another ultimatum to be issued to the government because the agreement has not been honoured,” he stated.

Despite the mounting pressure, Minjibir said the union was still consulting with stakeholders before deciding on its next line 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 matter.

“The adjustment should be extended to all eligible health workers in the spirit of fairness and equity,” he said.

The JOHESU chairman warned that continued neglect of workers’ welfare could adversely affect productivity and service delivery in the health sector.

He stressed that improving remuneration was critical to sustaining efficiency and motivation among healthcare personnel, while cautioning that industrial actions often leave patients bearing the consequences.

Minjibir also dismissed claims that non-medical health workers were merely seeking to benefit from gains secured by medical doctors.

He maintained that every professional cadre within the health sector has clearly defined responsibilities and should be compensated accordingly.

“We are not in competition with doctors. They remain our partners in healthcare delivery. Our demand is rooted in justice, fairness and respect for existing agreements,” he said.

He further emphasised that effective healthcare delivery depends on collaboration among all professionals, describing the sector as one that thrives on teamwork and mutual support.