The Federal Government and the Joint Health Sector Unions are set to reopen negotiations over salaries and welfare, with fresh talks scheduled for April 15 and 16, 2026, under the Collective Bargaining Agreement framework.
The decision was reached during a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, where both sides agreed to revive discussions that had been stalled for months, leading to a prolonged nationwide strike.
In a notice to union leaders, JOHESU’s National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, confirmed that negotiations have officially resumed. He stated that the talks restarted on April 13 and will continue with joint sessions between government and union representatives on the agreed dates.
According to him, both parties will follow previously established procedures, with each side holding separate negotiation sessions while adhering to agreed timelines to ensure steady progress.
Egbanubi recalled that the last meeting between the government and JOHESU took place on September 11, 2025, when the union presented its demands. However, discussions broke down due to disagreements over the implementation of the revised Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The deadlock eventually led to an 84-day nationwide strike from November 15, 2025, to February 6, 2026, severely disrupting healthcare services across the country.
Despite the past challenges, the union expressed hope that the renewed dialogue will produce meaningful results. Egbanubi said the talks offer an opportunity to resolve pending issues fairly and promptly, in the interest of both health workers and the public.
He also assured members that updates would be communicated as negotiations progress.
The renewed engagement comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s health sector, which continues to face staff shortages, limited funding, and frequent industrial disputes. The disagreement has largely centred on salary adjustments and improved welfare for health workers in federal and state institutions.
The prolonged strike had a significant impact on healthcare delivery, forcing many patients to turn to private hospitals or delay treatment.
