… Urges President Tinubu to direct OHCSF to issue inclusive, non-discriminatory retirement age circular
By Chioma Obinna
The Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, on Tuesday faulted the Federal Government’s recent circular reviewing the retirement age in Nigeria’s health sector, warning that the policy selectively favours one cadre.
The union also said the development threatens equity, teamwork and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
In an open letter to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, JOHESU expressed “deep concern” over what it described as a discriminatory implementation of a policy that was originally conceived to benefit all health workers.
“Healthcare delivery in Nigeria is multidisciplinary, and any policy that elevates one group above others undermines equity, teamwork and system efficiency,” the union said.
JOHESU recalled that it has been at the forefront of the agitation for an increase in the retirement age of health workers for over 15 years, stressing that the demand formed a core part of all eight Memoranda of Understanding, MoUs, signed with the Federal Government between 2014 and 2024.
“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.
“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,” it said.
Noting that the proposal was rejected several times, including as recently as December 2025, JOHESU maintained that it was its intervention that eventually led to presidential approval of the policy.
“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 union stated.
However, JOHESU accused the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, FMoH&SW, of hijacking the process after the approval, alleging that a manipulative committee was constituted to advance a selective retirement age extension that largely benefits physicians.
“The outcome was predictable,” JOHESU said.
JOHESU alleged that the committee introduced the concept of ‘clinically skilled health workers’ and made the 70-year retirement age the exclusive preserve of consultant physicians, contrary to the spirit of the FG–JOHESU MoU of June 4, 2023.
As far back as September 2025, the union said it formally notified the FMoH of its rejection of what it described as a mutilated interpretation of the agreement.
JOHESU warned that the selective policy has grave implications for workforce morale, arguing that it would encourage early retirement and force experienced professionals out of the health system prematurely.
“Experienced personnel are the epitome of institutional memory and value addition in care provisioning. Forcing them out will weaken the entire health value chain,” the union said.
Emphasising that no single cadre can function independently in healthcare delivery, JOHESU said the policy violates the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as basic principles of fairness, equity and justice.
The union therefore called on President Tinubu to intervene by directing the OHCSF to issue an all-inclusive and non-discriminatory retirement age circular, covering all health workers, including non-hospital-based staff in the sector.
“We respectfully demand a circular that aligns strictly with the FG–JOHESU MoU of June 4, 2023,” the union said, urging the President to seek legal guidance to address what it described as years of systemic injustice within the health sector.
JOHESU reaffirmed its commitment to fairness and transparency and expressed confidence that presidential intervention would restore unity, sustainability and equity in Nigeria’s health workforce.
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