Health Workers Stage Nationwide Protest Over Reform Bills at National Assembly
Healthcare workers across Nigeria are set to stage a nationwide protest today at the National Assembly Complex, opposing the proposed Health Sector Executive Bills 2026 currently before lawmakers.
The demonstration, organised by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, is expected to attract participants from across the country. Protesters are to converge at the Unity Fountain before moving to the National Assembly Complex.
In a directive issued to its affiliates, JOHESU called for mass mobilisation, warning that the proposed legislation could significantly impact healthcare professionals and the structure of the sector.
JOHESU National Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, said the protest is aimed at raising public awareness about the implications of the bills, urging members to sensitise citizens on how the reforms may affect both their professions and the broader health system.
He described the protest as a crucial moment for healthcare workers, emphasising the need for widespread participation.
The unions expressed concern that the bills—already passed for first reading in the Senate—could alter existing frameworks governing professional roles, welfare conditions, and operational structures within the health sector.
JOHESU, which includes major unions such as the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, has historically led advocacy and industrial actions over issues including salary structures, hazard allowances, and professional representation.
The planned protest comes amid ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system, including workforce shortages, migration of medical personnel abroad, and inadequate infrastructure—factors that stakeholders say could be further affected by the proposed reforms.
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