The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has directed its members across federal health institutions to withdraw their services indefinitely.
It was learnt on Saturday that this followed a new directive from the Federal Ministry of Health enforcing a “No Work, No Pay” policy.
In a statement circulated to members on Saturday, Comrade Abubakar Sani Aminu, a JOHESU leader, said the government policy was imposed without consultation with the union.
Aminu described it as a unilateral decision that undermines workers’ rights and collective bargaining principles.
According to the statement, Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal health institutions have been instructed to enforce the policy, a move JOHESU views as an attempt to weaken the union amid ongoing industrial action.
“This decision was made without prior consultation or dialogue with the union, showing a disregard for the collective voice of health workers,” Aminu said.
He urged members to remain calm but resolute, warning that the directive was intended to fracture the union’s unity.
He described the policy as “the final weapon” being deployed by the government to break JOHESU’s resolve.
As a result, the union directed all members to stay away from their duty posts with immediate effect, explicitly ruling out skeleton services or any form of compromise.
“There should be no skeleton services, no attempt to help out, or compromise in any way,” the statement read.
“Our collective action is the key to securing our rights.”
JOHESU leadership stressed that unity among members was critical, warning that allowing the policy to stand would set what it described as a dangerous precedent for future labour struggles within the health sector.
“This is the time for us to stand together, strong and united, until our demands are met,” Aminu said, adding that solidarity among members would determine the outcome of the dispute.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to what it termed a fight for fair treatment of health workers, calling on members nationwide to remain steadfast and supportive of one another as negotiations with the federal government continue.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Health had not issued an official response to the union’s directive.
The impact of the work stoppage on public health services remains unclear, though previous JOHESU strikes have significantly disrupted operations in federal hospitals across the country.
