Federal Government Orders Enforcement Of ‘No Work, No Pay’ On JOHESU

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has directed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of all federal hospitals to immediately enforce the federal government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy on members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU), who have been on strike since November 14, 2025.

The directive was contained in an official circular dated January 8, 2026, signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Abisola Adegoke, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Services.

The enforcement is to commence in January 2026 and will apply to all JOHESU members currently on strike, as well as any other staff groups who may embark on industrial action.

To mitigate disruptions in healthcare delivery, the ministry has instructed CMDs and MDs to use “all legal means,” including the employment of locum staff, to ensure uninterrupted provision of essential services such as accident and emergency, labour ward, and the Intensive Care Unit.

The ministry also emphasised the need for tight security within hospital premises, urging facility heads to guarantee the safety of lives and property, and to ensure that non-striking workers are not obstructed or harassed while performing their duties.

The circular further mandated hospital administrators to provide regular updates to the ministry on how the ongoing strike is affecting operations in their respective institutions.