By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government to desist from altering the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), directing its members across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to prepare for a potential industrial action.
This warning follows concerns that the recently approved extension of the retirement age may apply exclusively to clinical staff, a proposal reportedly pushed by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The union unequivocally warned that should the Federal Government fail to ensure the retirement age extension benefits all health workers equally, including non-clinical personnel, they would be forced to embark on a strike.
Dr. Kabiru Minijibir, who also leads the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and serves as Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made this known on Thursday, July 24, 2025, during the 47th Regular Meeting of the Tertiary Health Institution National Consultative Forum in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The theme of this year’s session was ‘the way forward for Nigeria’s Healthcare System, Challenges and Opportunities- Tertiary Health Focus.’
Dr. Minijibir expressed dismay, describing the NMA’s demand as “undue.” He explained that a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a result of years of struggle, stipulated an increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 for all health workers and 70 to 75 for consultative staff.
“The MOU was approved by the Federal Executive Council and returned for implementation,” Minijibir stated. “But unfortunately, our professional colleagues decided to truncate this issue, which we have been struggling for since 2014, by saying the retirement age should only be for clinical staff alone, forgetting that healthcare delivery is teamwork.”
He added, “We are sending a signal to the federal government that we will not take it lightly if any section of that MOU is altered. We have been patient but this time around we will not hesitate to down our tools because a signed agreement is an agreement by both parties.”
Minijibir, however, noted that the final decision on the proposed strike would be made at an emergency enlarged executive meeting soon. “We signed the MOU, not NMA whether the strike would be indefinite would all be decided in the meeting,” he said.
The National Chairman of the Tertiary Health Institutions’ National Consultative Forum, Dr. Akinlaya Davidson, highlighted the need for collective solutions to Nigeria’s health sector challenges, including the “Japa syndrome” and ineffective budgeting. He stressed that health workers have solutions and urged the government to prioritize worker welfare to retain talent and improve health indices.
Nwankwo Slyvanus Omaka, Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, AE-FUTHA branch, appealed to the Ebonyi State Governor to implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for state workers. He clarified, “Every other sector of the state has their own salary structure and our own is called CONHESS. We want the governor to look into that matter so that our workers in Ebonyi state will start to enjoy the CONHESS structure.”
Representing the Governor,the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekumankama,affirmed that the Ebonyi State Government is already paying minimum wage and prioritizes the health sector second only to education. Commissioner Ekumankama stated that the government is committed to worker welfare, believing that well-cared-for health workers lead to better patient care.
Nwankwo Slyvanus Omaka, Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, AE-FUTHA branch, appealed to the Ebonyi State Governor to implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for state workers. He clarified, “Every other sector of the state has their own salary structure and our own is called CONHESS. We want the governor to look into that matter so that our workers in Ebonyi state will start to enjoy the CONHESS structure.”
The event also featured awards given to various personalities who have made immense contributions to healthcare delivery, including Professor Robinson Chukwudi Onoh, the Chief Medical Director of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), and Dr. Rita-Mary Okoro, the Ebonyi State Head of Service, among others.