Sharon IKECHUKWU
The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals NUAHP has directed its members across the country to begin mobilisation for a possible nationwide strike over unpaid allowances and the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreed salary adjustments.
The union is demanding the payment of 19 months’ arrears of reviewed professional allowances and the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure CONHESS adjustment.
It warned that the continued delay in meeting these demands could lead to another strike in the health sector.
The directive was contained in a communiqué issued after the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at Dannic Hotels, New Haven, Enugu State, from October 21 to 22, 2026.
The communiqué was signed by the union’s National President, Kamal Ibrahim, and General Secretary, Martin Egbanubi.
The union said the mobilisation followed the expiration of a two-week ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, with the support of the Trade Union Congress TUC, on October 23.
It said the planned action was due to the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil its commitments to the Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU under an agreement signed on February 5, 2026.
NUAHP expressed concern that the government had yet to implement the CONHESS adjustment despite an 84-day strike previously embarked upon by JOHESU members. The strike was suspended after the government promised to address the workers’ demands.
The union urged the Federal Government to honour the agreement and take urgent steps to prevent another nationwide strike.
“The NEC urges the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, honour its obligations to JOHESU in line with the Terms of Settlement signed on 5th February, 2026, and take concrete steps to prevent resumption of the suspended nationwide strike action,” the communiqué stated.
NUAHP also acknowledged the efforts of the NLC and TUC to secure the salary adjustment and conclude negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement.
On professional allowances, the union said the Federal Government issued a circular on the review of health workers’ allowances on November 19, 2025, but the outstanding payments covering 19 months had yet to be settled.
It called on the government to pay the affected workers without further delay.
The union also complained that some health professionals were still excluded from call-duty allowances despite providing essential services outside regular working hours.
