The 78-day industrial action embarked upon by health workers in Lagos State has been officially suspended following a successful intervention by the State House of Assembly. In a statement released on Monday, 23 February 2026, the legislature confirmed that the breakthrough was achieved after the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the Committee on Health Services to mediate between the state government and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). The strike, which had crippled services at public hospitals and primary healthcare centres since December 2025, was called off after both parties reached a tentative agreement on several critical welfare demands.
The negotiations centered on outstanding issues related to salary adjustments, career progression, and the implementation of better welfare packages for healthcare professionals. During a high-level meeting at the Assembly Conference Room, the Commissioner for Establishment and Training and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health assured union leaders that their demands would be addressed within the current budgetary framework. Hon. Lawal Aina Musibau, who chaired the mediation committee, emphasized the “urgent need” to restore services to safeguard the wellbeing of residents who depend almost entirely on state-owned medical facilities for their primary care.
Despite the suspension of the strike, some contentious issues remain before the courts, and the government has maintained that these will be handled through the proper legal channels. Hon. Olumoh Sa’ad Lukmon, a member of the health committee, assured the unions that the state remains committed to the “spirit of the agreement” and will not victimize any member for their participation in the industrial action. JOHESU leaders have expressed cautious optimism, stating that they decided to return to work as a “mark of respect” for the legislative intervention and the plight of sick Lagosians who have suffered during the nearly three-month-long shutdown.
