Seven months without pay — that’s the reality confronting thousands of Nigerian health workers, and their patience is wearing thin.
In a communiqué issued after a tense meeting in Jos, the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) issued a warning to the federal government.
‘Settle the arrears or risk another nationwide strike.’
Following their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on May 13, 2025, the unions demanded the immediate payment of seven months’ arrears from the 2024 wage increase.
These unpaid salaries — covering June to December 2023 — reflect a 25–35% adjustment under the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which the government already included in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
However, the money is yet to get to them.
Government’s Breach Of Agreement
As a result, in a strongly worded communiqué, NUAHP President Kamal Ibrahim and Secretary Martin Egbanubi directly accused the federal government of breaching the Memorandum of Understanding signed on October 29, 2024, along with the resolutions reached on December 20, 2024.
Threat Of Renewed Strike
Consequently, the unions declared: “The government’s continued refusal to pay is unacceptable.
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“We demand urgent action to prevent a fresh round of industrial strikes”.
Urgency For Government Action
Furthermore, NUAHP — which represents pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, dietitians, and others — warned that they would revive the nationwide strike suspended last year if the government failed to act promptly.
To move the matter forward, the unions urged President Bola Tinubu to fulfil his promises by instructing the relevant ministries to resolve the issue without delay.
Additional Demands To Ease Burden
In addition, they called for tax relief on clinical allowances such as call duty, shift work, and teaching responsibilities.
Finally, they demanded the swift payment of retention allowances to ease financial pressure on health workers and curb the growing brain drain in the sector.
