The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria on Friday threatened a nationwide industrial action over the Federal Government’s alleged continued failure to implement the reviewed Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers.
The unions, in a statement, issued what they described as a final and irrevocable 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant authorities, warning that failure to act would trigger mass mobilisation of workers across the country.
The statement was jointly signed by the TUC General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, and the NLC’s acting General Secretary, Benson Upah.
The unions said the ultimatum takes effect from January 23, 2026 (today), and demands the immediate implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of CONHESS.
“Consequently, the TUC and NLC hereby issue a final and irrevocable 14-day notice to the Federal Ministry of Health and all relevant authorities, effective today, 23 January 2026, to immediately implement, without further delay or equivocation, the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of CONHESS, in line with established precedents in the health sector,” the statement stated.
They warned that failure to comply would lead to coordinated industrial action across both public and private sectors nationwide.
“Let it be clearly understood that failure to comply within Fourteen (14) days will compel organized labour to mobilize all Nigerian workers nationwide, across both public and private sectors, for total and coordinated industrial action.
“This will include mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, and a nationwide withdrawal of services until this injustice is decisively addressed,” the statement read.
The unions further accused the ministry of deliberate inaction and marginalisation of health workers whose services sustain the nation’s healthcare system.
“The TUC and NLC will no longer tolerate empty promises, bureaucratic sabotage, or the continued marginalization of health workers whose labour sustains the nation. The Federal Ministry of Health will bear full responsibility for the consequences of its inaction,” they added.
In a strongly worded statement, the labour centres condemned what they described as the persistent refusal of the ministry and relevant government agencies to implement the Technical Committee report submitted since 2021.
They argued that the delay had gone beyond an administrative lapse and now represented a conscious act of injustice and institutional disrespect to health workers and organised labour.
“This continued delay is no longer an administrative lapse; it is a conscious act of injustice, bad faith, and institutional disrespect to health workers and organized labour,” the unions stated.
The unions expressed dismay that while the government had implemented the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, it had refused to do the same for CONHESS.
“It is therefore unacceptable, and a blatant provocation, while the government had no difficulty implementing the adjustment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure with effect from 2nd January 2014, the same government has willfully refused to implement the same for CONHESS,” they said.
Describing the situation as discriminatory, the unions said such selective application of policy undermines fairness and industrial harmony within the health sector.
“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 added.
The NLC and TUC noted that despite repeated engagements and restraint in the interest of industrial peace, the ministry had remained unresponsive, prompting the decision to place all affiliates and state councils on red alert.
The unions, however, directed their 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory to commence mobilisation for nationwide action.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the Joint Health Sector Unions have been on strike since November 15, 2025.
The workers had cited the FG’s persistent failure to implement the adjusted CONHESS and address longstanding welfare and systemic issues affecting health workers.
JOHESU represents several key unions, including the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
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