Joint Health Sector Unions insist on unpaid allowances
The industrial crisis in the Lagos State health sector has entered its third month with no immediate resolution in sight, as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) continue their strike action.
In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the leadership of the union clarified that the standoff is rooted in the government’s failure to implement long-standing agreements regarding the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). Despite several rounds of negotiations with the state government, health workers maintain that their demands for fair compensation and improved working conditions remain largely unaddressed.
The strike, which began in November 2025, has significantly crippled medical services across state-owned general hospitals and primary health centers. Union leaders have accused the Lagos State Government of “selective implementation” of salary increments, alleging that only certain cadres of medical staff have benefited from recent adjustments. JOHESU argues that this disparity has created a demoralized workforce and exacerbated the “brain drain” phenomenon currently plaguing the Nigerian healthcare system.
According to the union, the core issues include the non-payment of the hazard allowance and the refusal of the government to review the retirement age for health workers to 65 years. The workers are also demanding the immediate recruitment of additional personnel to fill the massive vacancies created by professionals who have migrated abroad. Until these “non-negotiable” demands are met with a concrete commitment, the union insists that its members will not return to their duty posts.
Patients suffer as public hospitals operate on skeletal staff
The prolonged industrial action has left thousands of Lagos residents in a dire situation, as many are forced to seek expensive alternatives in private clinics. At several government facilities visited on Tuesday, only skeletal services were being provided by a handful of senior medical consultants and management staff. Emergency departments are overwhelmed, while elective surgeries and routine outpatient consultations have been suspended indefinitely, leading to a backlog of critical cases.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has appealed for calm, stating that the government is doing everything possible to resolve the impasse. He noted that the state is currently facing significant fiscal pressures and urged the unions to consider the humanitarian impact of their continued absence. The government has reportedly offered a phased payment plan for the disputed allowances, but this proposal was rejected by the JOHESU congress as “vague and unreliable.”
Civil society organizations have expressed deep concern over the rising mortality rates in low-income communities who rely solely on public healthcare. They argued that the government must prioritize the health of its citizens by finding a middle ground with the striking workers. The groups warned that a total collapse of the public health system in Lagos would have a catastrophic ripple effect on the entire South-West region of Nigeria.
Brain drain intensifies amid deteriorating work conditions
Beyond the immediate financial disputes, the JOHESU leadership highlighted the “toxic” work environment that has forced many of their best hands to leave the country. They noted that those who remain are overworked and under-equipped, often spending their own money to purchase basic medical supplies for patients. The union maintains that the strike is not just about money, but about “rescuing” the health profession from total irrelevance and decay.
The “Japa” syndrome—a term used locally to describe the mass migration of Nigerians—has seen thousands of nurses, pharmacists, and lab scientists depart for the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Union officials stated that the current salary structure in Lagos is no longer competitive, making it impossible to retain talent. They warned that if the government does not act fast, there will be no professional health workers left to manage the state’s multi-billion naira medical infrastructure.
As the strike enters its tenth week, there are reports that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) might join in sympathy, a move that would lead to a total shutdown of all medical services in the state. The Lagos State House of Assembly has attempted to intervene, but these efforts have yet to yield a breakthrough. For now, the gates of major hospitals remain partially closed, and the “war of nerves” between the government and the unions continues to leave the lives of millions of Lagosians hanging in the balance.
Stakeholders call for urgent presidential intervention
With the state government and the unions at a deadlock, there are growing calls for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to intervene. Stakeholders believe that a high-level mediation process, possibly involving the Presidency, is needed to break the cycle of failed promises and broken trust. They argued that the “Renewed Hope” agenda must start with ensuring that the most populous state in the country has a functional and motivated health workforce.
The JOHESU leadership concluded the interview by reiterating their openness to “sincere” dialogue but warned against any attempt to intimidate their members back to work. They claimed that some hospital managements have resorted to “no work, no pay” threats, which they described as an illegal tactic that will only harden their resolve. The union insisted that the “ball is in the court of the government” to prove it values the lives of its citizens by honoring the agreements it signed.
As the sun sets on another day of empty wards and silent clinics, the people of Lagos can only hope for a miracle. The health workers remain adamant, the government remains cautious, and the patients remain the silent victims of a system in crisis. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the strike will finally end or if 2026 will be remembered as the year the Lagos health sector faced its greatest challenge.
