You might be wondering why health workers are calling for the President to take immediate action. Well, it's because they're still waiting for the government to implement a deal they reached in February.

The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (AHPA) said President Tinubu needs to move fast to avoid problems in the health sector. They argued that failure to implement the agreed terms could undermine healthcare delivery and trigger avoidable industrial disharmony.

The unions mentioned that they signed an agreement with the Federal Government on February 15, 2026, following an 84-day strike. However, several key commitments remain unimplemented several months after the agreement.

According to the statement, the outstanding issues include the implementation of the CONHESS adjustment and the resumption and conclusion of negotiations on the Health Sector Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). JOHESU also urged the President to constitute and inaugurate the Boards of Management of agencies, parastatals and departments under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The absence of governing boards has weakened institutional oversight, slowed decision-making and affected accountability across federal health institutions and regulatory agencies. This has affected statutory functions of professional councils, including accreditation of training institutions, approval of practice guidelines and disciplinary processes.

JOHESU said the situation has disrupted statutory functions of professional councils, including accreditation of training institutions, approval of practice guidelines, and disciplinary processes. They added that federal health institutions have continued to operate without boards of management, creating administrative and governance challenges.

The unions further argued that chief executive officers have to shoulder responsibilities usually shared with governing boards. They urged President Tinubu to direct the immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, constitute, and inaugurate the Boards of Management of parastatals, agencies, and departments in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

In their statement, JOHESU also said, 'We respectfully call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the immediate implementation of the CONHESS adjustment, constitute, and inaugurate the Boards of Management of parastatals, agencies, and departments in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and meet other outstanding demands of health workers.'

The unions maintained that the prolonged delay has created institutional weaknesses and affected effective governance in the health sector. They urged the Federal Government to act before political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

It is the unions' prayer and hope that government negligence of the health sector will not trigger an avoidable industrial disharmony which usually leaves consumers of healthcare at the receiving end and causes avoidable disruption in health service delivery across public health institutions in the country.

The latest appeal signals renewed pressure on the Federal Government to implement agreements reached with health workers and address long-standing governance concerns in the nation's health sector to sustain industrial harmony.