Health workers’ unions have moved to address leadership knowledge gaps and strengthen compliance with collective bargaining agreements, as the Tertiary Health Institutions National Consultative Forum (THINCF) commenced its 48th Regular Meeting at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, on Sunday.
The National Chairman of THINCF, in his welcome address, said inadequate knowledge of the union’s constitution, branch administration and workers’ rights among some branch leaders remained a challenge that required urgent attention.
He called on State Councils and the national leadership to intensify training and orientation for branch executives to improve their understanding of union procedures and responsibilities.
The chairman said THINCF remained a critical platform for consultation and collective action on welfare issues affecting workers in tertiary health institutions.
He also appealed to the national leadership to ensure strict compliance with the constitutional provision for two regular THINCF meetings annually, noting that regular meetings would strengthen institutional memory, coordination and collective action.
He urged State Councils to adhere to due process in the conduct of branch elections and the resolution of disputes, while charging branch leaders to embark on aggressive membership drives.
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On social media use, the chairman cautioned members against insults, personal attacks and the circulation of unverified information, urging them to use the platforms to promote unity within the union.
Also speaking, the National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade (Dr) Kabiru Ado Sani Minjibir, charged branch chairmen and secretaries to monitor the implementation of collective bargaining agreements, ensure proper remittance of check-off dues and defend members against injustice.
Minjibir described the theme of the meeting, “Strengthening Trade Unionism: Panacea for Effective Leadership in a Changing Economy,” as timely, citing inflation, brain drain and rising workloads in the health sector.
He commended members for their resilience during the 84-day strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), which began on November 15, 2025, saying the action demonstrated the discipline and unity of health workers.
The MHWUN president said while the CONHESS salary adjustment and other agreements were yet to be fully resolved, progress recorded after the strike had surpassed achievements of the previous decade, with negotiations on collective bargaining agreements now resuming.
He disclosed that JOHESU would convene meetings of its organs, including an expanded National Executive Council, in the coming weeks to take further decisions on outstanding issues.
Minjibir called on the Ministries of Labour, Health and Finance, as well as other stakeholders, to conclude action on JOHESU’s major demands to prevent another disruption of health services.
He assured members facing membership retention challenges that the national leadership was working with the THINCF leadership to sustain unity within JOHESU.