The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on Thursday reinforced its ongoing Strike at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, deploying union officials to monitor and ensure total compliance across the hospital.
Led by union leaders and armed with canes, JOHESU members moved from office to office, directing health workers on duty to vacate their posts in line with the nationwide industrial action.
The enforcement team, drawn from the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), maintained that the Strike would persist until all demands were fully addressed.
This action comes despite a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health, which instructed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal hospitals to implement a “no work, no pay” policy beginning January 2026.
During the exercise, health workers displayed placards bearing messages such as “JOHESU Strike, No Justice, No Retreat” and “CONHESS Adjustment Is Sacrosanct, No Going Back.”
Abia State Chairman of NUAHP, Mr. Chibueze Oparaocha, said the unions considered it mandatory to periodically assess compliance at FMC Umuahia. According to him, due process was followed before the Strike, stressing that the action would continue until justice was achieved.
Similarly, Abia State Chairman of MHWUN, Mr. Solomon Offor, explained that the enforcement was part of efforts to strengthen the Strike, which began on November 15, 2025. He reiterated that the unions are demanding the implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which has remained unresolved for over 12 years.
Offor acknowledged ongoing negotiations between the national leadership of JOHESU and the Federal Ministry of Health but insisted that sustained enforcement of the Strike was necessary to compel government action.
Chairperson of MHWUN at FMC Umuahia, Mrs. Commy Okonkwo, expressed satisfaction with the high level of compliance, commending members for their discipline and commitment. She criticized individuals undermining the union’s efforts, noting that such actions necessitated the monitoring exercise.
She added that the level of compliance observed had renewed hope that government authorities would respond appropriately to the unions’ demands.
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