Ilorin Varsity Health Workers Protest Unmet Demands

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in Kwara State yesterday staged a peaceful protest over their unmet demands by the federal government.

The workers held the protest after holding  an emergency congress held at the union’s secretariat within the hospital’s complex .

The health workers protest followed the stoppage of the payment of their salaries by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

LEADERSHIP reports that the health workers had embarked on an indefinite strike since  November 14, 2025, forcing the government to invoke ” no work, no pay” order.

The chairman of JOHESU at the UITH, Mr Oyelowo Olufemi accused the federal government of being insensitive to their plight .

According to him, the government signed a  memorandum of understanding (MoU)  with the union since 2009 which indicates that the two salary structures of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure

(CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) would receive due adjustment and recognition.

He, however, lamented that the federal government reneged on the pledge to accord the same importance to CONHESS.

He explained that the government has adjusted the CONMESS for the physicians thrice; 2014, 2017 and 2018, while refusing to do the same for CONHESS.

“That is the backbone of the strike actions. We are demanding that the government adjust CONHESS also.

“We are appealing to the federal government to wade in and see what is going on in the Ministry of Health. They should do what is right for the health sector,” he said.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI), Mr Saka Abdullahi, alleged the management of UITH “is using the “no work, no Pay” policy directed by the Federal Ministry of Health to force their members to work.

But, the acting head, Corporate Affairs Unit of UITH, Mr Abiodun Fagbemi pointed out that the management was well aware that the ongoing strike action by JOHESU is not local, but national.

“There is nobody that is forced to appear at the hospital to work,” he insisted.