The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued a final 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant government agencies to immediately implement the long-delayed adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), warning that failure to do so will trigger a nationwide industrial action.
The ultimatum was contained in a joint press statement signed by the Secretary General of the TUC, Comrade General NA Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah. The labour centres accused the Federal Government of a “persistent, deliberate, and provocative refusal” to implement the report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS, which was submitted in 2021 and chaired by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
According to the unions, the prolonged delay has gone beyond administrative negligence and now represents an act of injustice and institutional disrespect toward health workers. They lamented that five years after the report was submitted, health workers continue to suffer hardship, frustration and inequality.
The TUC and NLC condemned what they described as selective implementation of salary policies within the health sector. They noted that while the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) was adjusted and implemented with effect from January 2, 2014, the government has consistently refused to implement CONHESS.
“This selective justice and discriminatory application of policy within the same sector expose the insincerity of the government’s commitment to fairness, equity and industrial harmony,” the statement read.
The unions said repeated engagements with the Ministry of Health, in the interest of industrial peace, have been met with excuses and what they described as arrogant silence. They announced that the 14-day ultimatum takes effect from January 23, 2026.
They warned that failure to comply would result in mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, and a nationwide withdrawal of services. All TUC and NLC affiliates, including state councils and the FCT, have been placed on red alert and directed to commence mobilisation.
The labour centres urged the government to act swiftly to avert an avoidable national shutdown.
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