Health sector unions, led by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, have announced a nationwide protest in Abuja today over the proposed Health Sector Executive Bills 2026, currently before the National Assembly.
The demonstration, scheduled for Thursday, March 26, is expected to bring healthcare professionals from across the country to the National Assembly Complex, with participants gathering at the Unity Fountain in Maitama, Abuja.
In an official communication obtained Thursday morning, JOHESU directed its affiliate unions and professional associations to mobilize members en masse, warning that the proposed legislation could have far-reaching implications for healthcare professionals and the sector as a whole.
Speaking on the planned protest, JOHESU’s National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, said, “Our members must educate the general public on how the Health Sector Executive Bills 2026 affect their respective professions in particular and the health sector in general.”
He described the protest as a critical moment for healthcare workers, urging maximum participation. “Your participation in this historic existential struggle is highly solicited and essential,” Egbanubi added.
The union noted that the bills, which have already passed first reading in the Senate, have raised concerns among health workers who fear potential alterations to existing structures, professional roles, and welfare conditions within the sector.
JOHESU, a coalition of major health sector unions including the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, has historically played a central role in labour disputes within Nigeria’s health sector.
The group has frequently engaged the Federal Government over issues such as salary structures, hazard allowances, and perceived dominance of certain professional groups in policy decisions affecting the sector.
Tensions within Nigeria’s healthcare system have persisted for years, often manifesting in strikes and service disruptions that affect millions of citizens. Disputes typically stem from concerns over welfare, professional recognition, funding gaps, and governance of health institutions.
The emergence of the Health Sector Executive Bills 2026 comes at a time when Nigeria’s health system is already under strain due to workforce shortages, brain drain, and inadequate infrastructure. Many healthcare professionals continue to migrate abroad in search of better working conditions, further weakening the system.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
