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Imo State health workers, under the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, are set to shut down the health sector with an indefinite strike due to alleged negligence of their welfare under Hope Uzodinma’s administration.
The union hinted that several negotiations between the workers and the state government failed to yield positive results.
The decision of the workers to shut down the health sector was made public in a press statement jointly signed by its State Chairman, Comrade Uche Okafor, and others.
The union maintained that the alleged continuous negligence of workers’ welfare compelled them to consider an indefinite strike as their last option to press home their demands.
According to the statement, the leadership of the health workers said they decided to shut down the health sector after a series of efforts to get attention and endorsement of their demands from the Governor, as communicated to him through the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Head of Service.
They noted that the salary structure reflected on the State Payroll portal, indicating designations such as HWSS, CSS, and HAPSS, is inconsistent with the approved CONHESS structure—a development they noted has resulted in alleged stagnation and unjustifiable reduction in the earnings of health workers, thereby undermining the intent and spirit of the directives.
The union added that the development has also caused serious hardship to health workers.
“The union, in line with established relations procedures, issued a 21-day ultimatum on November 12, 2025, which expired on December 3, 2025, without any meaningful engagement from the government.
“The demands of the union include: immediate and unconditional restoration of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for all health workers in Imo State without discrimination or selective implementation, including payment of specialists’ allowance, call duty allowance, clinical duty allowance, teaching allowance, hazard allowance, and rural posting allowance for deserving members; the provision and full implementation of approved CONHESS; payment of outstanding CONHESS arrears from September 2025 to date; as well as harmonization and full implementation of the financial effects of IMSUTH staff promotions,” the release stated.
Other demands, according to the workers, include the concern that continuous notional placement of some officers while others from the same promotion enjoy full benefits is unacceptable to them.
They also demanded full implementation of CONHESS, addressing welfare issues, payment of hazard allowances, and improved working conditions.
Imo health workers threaten to embark on indefinite strike over welfare neglect
