The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant government agencies over the non-implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), warning that failure to act will trigger a nationwide strike.
In a joint statement signed by TUC Secretary General Comrade General NA Toro and Acting NLC General Secretary Comrade Benson Upah, the labour centres accused the Ministry of Health of sustained injustice against health workers, describing the prolonged delay in adjusting CONHESS as deliberate and provocative.
The unions faulted the government for failing to implement the report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS, submitted in 2021 and chaired by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. They said the delay has gone beyond administrative oversight, representing bad faith, institutional disrespect, and unfair treatment of health workers who continue to provide essential services under challenging conditions.
The statement noted that more than five years after the report’s submission, health workers under CONHESS continue to face hardship and inequality, while similar salary structures, such as the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), were adjusted and implemented promptly in 2014. The unions described this selective application as discriminatory and a contradiction of the government’s claims of fairness and commitment to industrial harmony.
The labour centres also condemned what they called the Ministry of Health’s repeated excuses and silence during engagements, describing its attitude as arrogant and a betrayal of trust.
The 14-day ultimatum, which takes effect from January 23, 2026, demands the immediate implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on CONHESS in line with established precedents. The unions warned that failure to comply would lead to coordinated nationwide industrial action, including mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, and a total withdrawal of services across the country.
All TUC and NLC affiliates nationwide, including the 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory, have been placed on red alert and instructed to begin mobilization for the planned action.
The labour centres urged the Federal Government to act promptly to avert an avoidable national shutdown, warning that the Ministry of Health would bear full responsibility for the consequences of continued inaction.
