The Federal Government has announced the suspension of the 84-day nationwide industrial action by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) following a successful conciliation meeting.
All members of the union have been directed to return to work immediately in the interest of patients, health system stability, and national public health security.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Press & Public Relations to the Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the resolution reflects the government’s commitment to dialogue, fairness, and protection of Nigeria’s health workforce.
“The Federal Government remains fully committed to the welfare, dignity, and professional advancement of all health workers across Nigeria. The resolution reached demonstrates that dialogue, mutual respect, and good faith remain the most effective tools for resolving industrial disputes in our health sector,” the statement said.
The government also announced the withdrawal of the “No Work, No Pay” directive issued during the strike and approved the immediate payment of January 2026 salaries for all JOHESU members.
Dr Salako assured that no worker would be victimised, sanctioned, or intimidated for participating in the industrial action.
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He added that negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement will continue, with priority given to outstanding issues relating to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The Federal Government also committed to including proposed salary adjustments in the 2026 Appropriation Act, guided by the existing technical committee template.
The Ministry of Health commended all parties for their spirit of cooperation and responsibility and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted, quality, and accessible healthcare services across the country.
JOHESU had previously warned of a renewed nationwide strike if the Federal Government failed to implement agreed salary adjustments by April. The union’s strike, which began on November 15, 2025, was temporarily halted on February 6, 2026, by its national leadership.