By JOAN NWAGWU

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike, over the Federal Government’s 12-year delay in implementing the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

Mr. Kabiru Minjibir, JOHESU National Chairman, said this while addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja at the end its Expanded National Executive Council meeting.

Minjibir said the decision to embark on an indefinite strike followed a unanimous resolution, directing all affiliate unions in federal health institutions to withdraw services from midnight Friday.

He explained that several engagements with the government since 2014 yielded no meaningful progress, despite assurances, memoranda and conciliation meetings aimed at resolving the long-standing salary dispute.

He said the Federal Government’s failure to act on the High-Level Body report on CONHESS, submitted since 2022, created frustration among health workers who had consistently embraced dialogue and demonstrated restraint.

“This 12-year delay is unacceptable. Health workers have shown maturity and patriotism, but government inaction has made this strike inevitable.

“Our members will remain on strike until the adjusted CONHESS structure is fully implemented.

‘We cannot continue working under a violated agreement that disadvantages our workforce,” he added.

Minjibir said the state councils of JOHESU had been directed to issue a 15-day strike notice to their respective governments in line with labour laws, assuring full national support whenever state actions commence.

He apologised to Nigerians for the disruption, saying the unions were compelled to act due to government delays, while warning against any form of victimisation of members participating in the strike.

He said JOHESU remained open to immediate dialogue with government, stressing that swift implementation of the salary structure could lead to a suspension of the industrial action without further escalation.

Minjibir urged the Federal Government to prioritise workers’ welfare, noting that timely resolution of disputes in the health sector was critical to service delivery and national stability. (NAN)