Nigeria's government suspends pay for striking health workers starting Jan. 8, 2026, demanding essential services continue.

The Nigerian federal government has enforced a "No Work, No Pay" policy against striking health workers in the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), effective January 8, 2026, halting pay for members participating in a strike that began November 14, 2025. The directive, issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, requires hospitals to maintain emergency, maternity, and intensive care services using temporary staff and mandates regular reporting on operations. The government says the move upholds accountability and service delivery, while the union condemns it as a unilateral attack on workers’ rights, vowing to maintain the strike with no exceptions. Public health experts warn the policy may worsen strain on an already fragile health system.