The Federal Government has ordered the immediate enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals participating in the ongoing strike.
The directive was contained in a circular issued on Saturday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal health institutions.
The circular, dated January 8 and signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Disu Adejoke, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the decision followed the continuation of the JOHESU strike, which began on November 14, 2025.
It directed hospital managements to ensure strict compliance with the Federal Government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy, effective from January 2026. The directive applies to all striking JOHESU members as well as any other category of staff that may embark on industrial action.
The ministry further instructed federal health institutions to sustain critical services, including accident and emergency care, labour wards and intensive care units, through lawful means such as the engagement of locum staff where necessary.
The circular also stated that staff willing to continue working must be allowed to do so without intimidation, while hospital authorities were directed to ensure the security of lives and property within their facilities and provide regular updates to the ministry on the impact of the strike on service delivery.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to maintaining essential healthcare services nationwide despite the industrial action.
Commenting on the development, a public health expert based in Abuja, Dr Gabriel Adakole, described the enforcement of the policy as a legally backed move aimed at ending the strike but warned of its implications for the country’s health system.
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He noted that JOHESU members, including nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists, play critical roles in hospital operations, adding that their absence could weaken service delivery even where emergency services remain available.
Adakole warned that reliance on emergency-only care and locum staff could pose risks to patient safety and treatment outcomes, while the policy could further strain health workers’ morale and worsen the brain drain in the sector.
He added that patients were likely to bear the greatest impact through delayed treatments and reduced access to care, stressing that lasting stability in the health sector would require sustained dialogue, trust-building and investment in health workers and infrastructure.