Health workers across Lagos State commenced a three-day warning strike on Wednesday, citing the non-implementation of adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The strike, spearheaded by unions including the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), follows the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the state government.
Oloruntoba Odumosu, Secretary of NANNM, confirmed the strike action in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noting that recent discussions with government officials ended without resolution.
“The state government has failed to provide a clear timeline for implementing our demands, and there is no formal approval from the governor for payment. This situation left the unions with no choice but to proceed with the strike after Congress unanimously voted in favor,” Odumosu explained.
He criticized the government’s perceived lack of urgency in addressing the issue, which he described as unfair given the critical role health workers play in the state’s healthcare delivery system.
“Despite numerous attempts at amicable resolution, the government remains indifferent to our plight. Adjustments for doctors under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) were implemented in October 2024, yet health workers have been left behind, fostering division and lowering morale among health professionals,” he added.
Similarly, Kamaldeen Kabiawu, State Secretary of NUAHP, condemned the delayed implementation of a 25% CONHESS adjustment, particularly in light of the 35% CONMESS adjustment granted to doctors.
The strike, which runs from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13, will affect services across all state-owned health facilities, including the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), general hospitals, and primary health centers.
Union members participating in the strike include nurses, midwives, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians, medical laboratory scientists, optometrists, radiographers, dental therapists, medical physicists, health information managers, clinical psychologists, and medical social workers.
The unions have called on the state government to meet their demands for the full implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, urging authorities to treat all health workers equitably to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services for Lagos residents.
