Minjibir gave the charge on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the 48th Regular Meeting of the Tertiary Health Institutions National Consultative Forum, THINCF, held at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.
Welcoming delegates to the meeting, the MHWUN President thanked God for journey mercies and commended the management of UATH under Prof. Thairu Yunusa for hosting the forum. He also acknowledged the presence of the Aguma of Gwagwalada, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Magaji, and other government functionaries.
He described the THINCF meeting as a constitutional requirement under Rule 32(a) of the union's constitution, noting that it was deliberately created to provide a structured platform for leadership of tertiary health institutions to brainstorm on welfare issues and strengthen the union.
According to him, branch leaders must ensure proper remittance and accounting of check-off dues, serve as the first line of defence against injustice to members, and ensure resolutions reached at the forum are implemented at their branches.
Speaking on the theme, "Strengthening Trade Unionism: Panacea for Effective Leadership in a Changing Economy," Minjibir said the theme was timely, given inflation, brain drain, and increasing workload on health workers. He warned that weak trade unionism in the current economic reality was an invitation to exploitation.
The MHWUN President commended members for their resilience during the historic 84-day JOHESU strike that commenced on November 15, 2025, saying their resolve sent a strong message to the Federal Government that JOHESU remained organised and disciplined.
He disclosed that despite the progress recorded after the strike, the CONHESS salary adjustment and other collective agreements were yet to be fully resolved. He however said the progress made surpassed what was achieved in the last decade, adding that CBA negotiations had resumed with renewed seriousness.
Minjibir revealed that the leadership of JOHESU would convene meetings of its organs, including an expanded National Executive Council meeting, in a few weeks to review the situation and take resolute action.
He therefore called on the Federal Government, particularly the Ministers of Labour and Employment, Health, Finance and other stakeholders, to perfect JOHESU's flagship demands before the meeting to avoid disruption of health services.
He assured members facing challenges in organizing and retaining members at branch level that the national leadership was collaborating with THINCF leadership to find lasting solutions and sustain JOHESU unity.
On internal development, he said his leadership had sustained progressive unionism, with renovation of all union lodges completed with solar energy systems, and structural work on the ongoing specialist hospital project at Idu nearing completion.
He commended the leadership of THINCF under Comrade Dr. Davidson Akilaiya for sustaining a peaceful forum and for facilitating free and fair elections across tertiary health institutions, while congratulating newly elected branch executives.
Minjibir decried the deplorable condition of healthcare facilities nationwide, poor welfare of health workers, and rising insecurity where health professionals are targeted by kidnappers and bandits. He said government neo-liberal policies had eroded the new national minimum wage, subjecting workers to hardship.
He warned that Nigerian workers already had their backs against the wall and that failure to address the hardship could lead to reactions that might be difficult to contain.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the four-day workshop to build capacity and return to their institutions as more empowered leaders.
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