The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have threatened a nationwide industrial action over the Federal Government’s alleged continued failure to implement the reviewed Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers.
The unions issued what they described as a final and irrevocable 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities, warning that failure to act would trigger mass mobilisation of workers across the country.
The ultimatum, which takes effect from January 23, 2026, demands the immediate implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of CONHESS.
The warning was contained in a joint statement signed by the TUC General Secretary, Comrade Nuhu Toro, and the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah.
“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 said.
The unions warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would result in coordinated industrial action across both the public and private sectors.
“Failure to comply within fourteen (14) days will compel organised labour to mobilise 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,” they added.
The NLC and TUC accused the Federal Ministry of Health of deliberate inaction and the continued marginalisation of health workers who sustain the nation’s healthcare system.
“The TUC and NLC will no longer tolerate empty promises, bureaucratic sabotage, or the continued marginalisation of health workers whose labour sustains the nation. The Federal Ministry of Health will bear full responsibility for the consequences of its inaction,” the unions stated.
They argued that the prolonged delay had gone beyond an administrative lapse and now amounted to a conscious act of injustice and institutional disrespect towards 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 organised labour,” the statement read.
The unions also expressed concern that while the government had implemented adjustments to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), it had failed to do the same for CONHESS.
“It is unacceptable and a blatant provocation that while the government had no difficulty implementing the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure with effect from January 2, 2014, it has wilfully refused to implement the same for CONHESS,” they said.
Describing the situation as discriminatory, the unions said the selective application of policy undermines fairness, equity, 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.
They directed their 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory to commence mobilisation for nationwide action.
The unions said the planned action was necessitated by the Federal Government’s persistent failure to implement the adjusted CONHESS and address longstanding welfare and systemic issues affecting health workers.
The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) represent several 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.