JOHESU warns of health sector collapse amid prolonged strike

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has cautioned that Nigeria’s public health system is on the brink of collapse as the nationwide industrial action reached its 63rd day, and 43rd day in Lagos State, on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

The Lagos State Council of JOHESU issued the warning during a press conference, attributing the prolonged strike to unresolved welfare concerns, stagnant salary adjustments, and the continued emigration of health workers.

Vice Chairman of JOHESU in Lagos, Comrade Sode Adegbenro, said the government’s failure to review the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for 14 years has further eroded staff morale and accelerated the departure of experienced professionals.

He noted that public hospitals are increasingly short-staffed, leaving the remaining workforce overstretched.

Adegbenro added that the Lagos chapter joined the nationwide strike on its 20th day following lingering state-level issues, including the non-domestication of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre and the absence of a Directorate of Medical Laboratory Services.

Adegbenro explained that the lack of professional leadership structures in laboratories and poor career progression had contributed to frustration among health workers.

He decried inadequate logistics support, noting that health workers across primary, secondary and tertiary facilities in Lagos State rely on a single functional staff bus to cover rotations and emergency duties.

The union demanded the extension of retention allowance to all health workers on CONHESS, as well as the correction of anomalies in call duty and after hours allowances affecting pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other cadres.

Despite the strike, Adegbenro said JOHESU members had continued to maintain essential hospital utilities such as oxygen supply, water, electricity and sterilisation services to prevent avoidable loss of lives.

He described the gesture as a sign of restraint and professionalism, adding that it had come at a high personal and financial cost to workers.

The union warned that without urgent government intervention, the health system would continue to lose experienced personnel, deepening the crisis in public hospitals.

Adegbenro urged the Federal and Lagos State governments to address the union’s demands promptly to avert further deterioration of healthcare delivery.

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