Tinubu Government Must Meet Demands of Resident Doctors and Health Workers Immediately
FG Must Adequately Fund Healthcare
The strike of health care workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has paralysed many public hospitals since November 14, 2025 because of the government’s refusal to meet the workers’ demands for better pays and decent condition. Rather, the government responded with punitive measures such as ‘No Work, No Pay’, threat of sack and restraining court orders aimed at arm-twisting and bullying workers into submission.
The healthcare workers are demanding the implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and other lingering welfare issues such as poor working conditions and poor healthcare facilities.
Similarly, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) had embarked on strike on November 1, 2025 and only suspended the strike on November 29, 2025 after an MOU was reached with government. However, the union had threatened to resume the strike on January 12, 2026 following the failure of the government to fulfil the agreement before the Vice President’s ‘intervention’ made them to rescind the plan. It is possible for the doctors to be forced to eventually resume the strike by the failure of government to once again fulfil its promises. The demands of NARD include upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, 2024 accoutrements allowances, reinstatement of victimised doctors amongst others.
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) calls on the Tinubu government to immediately meet the demands of JOHESU, NARD and other health workers and holistically improve healthcare delivery. CDWR calls for adequate funding of healthcare sector as well as democratic management that include elected representatives of health workers and community people. We commend the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for their solidarity with JOHESU and urge them to also include the issues of doctors and the need for adequate funding of health in their demands.