The Joint Union of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike today, Monday June 16, 2025 following the failure of the authority’s management to address its six-point demand.
The directive was issued after a congress of the union, during which leaders presented the outcome of their meeting with NHIA management held on June 5, 2025. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the union resolved to withdraw services.
In a circular dated June 11, 2025, and signed by the NHIA Union Chairman, Comrade Achir Chris Iorver; Secretary, Comrade Aina Sesam Benjamin; and three other executives, the union declared that all NHIA offices nationwide must shut down immediately and remain closed until the demands are met.
“Congress resolved that there will be immediate withdrawal of service nationwide effective June 16, 2025, and total compliance is mandatory,” the circular stated. “By this resolution, no staff member is to report for duty during the period.”
The union is demanding the full payment of all outstanding allowances owed to its members.
It is also calling for a comprehensive salary review to reflect the current economic realities, with retroactive effect from August 2024 to May 2025.
Additionally, the union is seeking reforms within the NHIA, including the immediate removal of consultants linked to private organisations, who they say have infiltrated the Authority’s operations to the detriment of staff welfare and transparency.
It is also demanding the suspension of non-essential foreign travels by the NHIA Director-General and other top officials, particularly those undertaken without institutional documentation, and a halt to estacode payments for activities unrelated to NHIA’s core health insurance mandate.
The union further insists on transparency in the salary review process and calls for the renegotiation of terms of service for all staff. It raised alarm over the disbursement of billions of naira to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) for service reviews, which it described as a breach of financial accountability and due process.
As part of its financial accountability demands, the union is requesting that all intervention funds be domiciled within the NHIA and subjected to a forensic audit to ensure compliance with public sector financial regulations.
Expressing deep frustration over prolonged stagnation in remuneration, the union lamented that the last salary increase was in 2014, eleven years ago despite the rising cost of living and daily inflation.
“The last salary increment was in 2014. Eleven years ago. Inflation rises almost daily. How can we cope while we are suffering?” the union queried in its statement.
It further condemned the increasing reliance on external consultants, who allegedly receive generous financial rewards, while permanent NHIA staff continue to struggle under poor conditions.
“Moreover, we have observed a concerning trend of hiring external consultants who receive unexpected financial incentives, while our regular employees are left to navigate their financial obligations without the support they need,” the circular read.
“It is disheartening to witness our valuable colleagues suffer due to a lack of adequate compensation and support. These practices have not only affected morale but have also led to severe consequences, including staff health issues and, tragically, even fatalities among employees who felt overwhelmed and unsupported.”
The strike, which affects all NHIA offices and operations across the country, is expected to disrupt health insurance services until the management addresses the union’s demands and restores confidence among its workforce.
