The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over the continued non-implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), warning that failure to act will trigger a nationwide strike.
The labour centres, in a joint statement on Thursday, accused the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant agencies of deliberately delaying the implementation of the salary structure, describing the situation as unjust, provocative and unacceptable.
The statement was jointly signed by the Secretary General of the TUC, Comrade General N.A. Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah.
According to organised labour, the Federal Government has failed 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.
The unions said the prolonged delay could no longer be explained as administrative oversight, but rather amounted to bad faith, institutional disrespect and unfair treatment of health workers who continue to provide essential services under challenging conditions.
They expressed concern that more than five years after the submission of the report, health workers on CONHESS remain subjected to hardship and inequality, while other salary structures within the health sector have been reviewed and implemented.
Organised labour specifically criticised what it described as discriminatory treatment, noting that the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) was reviewed and implemented with effect from January 2, 2014, while CONHESS has remained unattended.
The unions argued that the selective implementation of salary adjustments undermines the government’s commitment to fairness, equity and industrial harmony in the health sector.
They also accused the Ministry of Health of repeatedly responding to engagements with excuses and silence, describing the ministry’s posture as arrogant and a breach of trust.
The 14-day ultimatum, according to the statement, takes effect from January 23, 2026. The unions are demanding the immediate implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on CONHESS, in line with existing precedents in the sector.
They warned that failure to comply within the deadline would result in coordinated nationwide industrial action, including mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, and a total withdrawal of services across the country.
The TUC and NLC stressed that they would no longer tolerate empty assurances, bureaucratic delays or the continued marginalisation of health workers whose roles are critical to national wellbeing.
All affiliates of both labour centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have been placed on red alert and directed to commence mobilisation ahead of the planned action.
The unions urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to avert what they described as an avoidable national shutdown, warning that the Ministry of Health would be held fully responsible for the consequences of continued inaction.