Health Workers Union Rises Up For Nigerians, Opposes New Retirement Age

The apex health workers union in Nigeria has started a fight on what should be the retirement age for Nigeria’s healthcare sector workers.

The Joint Health Sector Unions, (JOHESU) is demanding an increase in the retirement age of its members drawing a comparism with what is obtainable in the education sector.

It demands that the retirement age of its members be raised from 60 to 65 years, with health consultants retiring at 70 years, similar to the retiring age for professors

In making this demand in n an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and signed by the JOHESU Chairman and Secretary, Kabiru Minjibir and Martin Egbanubi, respectively, the union criticised the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for issuing a circular that it said favours only one cadre of health workers, to the exclusion of others.

, the union referred to negotiations that followed a June 2023 strike involving health workers, drawing attention to existing provisions in universities and affiliated institutions that allow staff to retire at 65 years, while professors retire at 70 years.

Essential medical services like the above may be non-existent should the healthcare workers embark on service withdrawal as they threaten

“On that basis, JOHESU demanded an increase in the retirement age of all health workers from 60 to 65 years, with health consultants retiring at 70 years, similar to professors”.

Noting that the proposal was rejected several times, including as recently a December 2025, the apex union added:

“For the record, it was at our instance that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment directed the Federal Ministry of Health to take the issue to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for Federal Executive Council intervention, which was eventually approved,”

The Eagle reports that the masses of Nigerians are usually caught in the middle, sometimes leading to loss of lives or worsening of health conditions any time health workers embark on service withdrawal.

The discriminatory implementation of policies is one condition that triggers such.

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Our correspondent also reports that in an open letter to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) JOHESU had stated:

“Healthcare delivery in Nigeria is multidisciplinary, and any policy that elevates one group above others undermines equity, teamwork and system efficiency”.

It says one way to achieve much desired harmony is an increase in the retirement age of its band of health workers, an agitation it says it has carried on for over 15 years.

“It has always been our cardinal demand,” the union stated, adding that the policy push was initially resisted by the Federal Ministry of Health and other professional bodies, which it accused of now benefiting disproportionately from the approved review.

The union said the issue was extensively discussed during negotiations that followed the June 2023 strike, when it drew attention to existing provisions in universities and affiliated institutions that allow staff to retire at 65 years, while professors retire at 70 years.