Nigeria’s two leading labour unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the implementation of the long-awaited review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The unions warned that failure to act within the stipulated period would result in nationwide industrial action across the country’s health sector.
The ultimatum was announced on Friday in a joint statement signed by the Secretary General of the TUC, Comrade General N.A. Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah.
In the statement, the unions accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of deliberately neglecting the report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS, which was submitted in 2021 under the chairmanship of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
According to the unions, the prolonged delay has exceeded the bounds of administrative oversight and now reflects what they described as bad faith and institutional disregard for health workers and organised labour.
They expressed concern that nearly five years after the submission of the committee’s report, health workers continue to face hardship and unequal treatment due to the government’s failure to act.
The labour centres also criticised what they termed the 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 2014, similar adjustments for CONHESS have consistently been stalled.
“This uneven treatment within the same sector raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to equity, fairness, and industrial harmony,” the statement said.
The NLC and TUC further disclosed that repeated efforts at dialogue and sustained restraint by labour leaders, aimed at maintaining industrial peace, have produced no meaningful results.
Instead, they accused the Federal Ministry of Health of responding with excuses and silence.
Describing the situation as an abuse of trust, the unions declared what they termed a final and irreversible 14-day ultimatum, effective from January 23, 2026.
They demanded the immediate implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on CONHESS, in line with established practices in the health sector.
The unions warned that failure to comply with the ultimatum would leave organised labour with no alternative but to embark on coordinated nationwide industrial action.
They said the planned action would involve mass protests, picketing of health facilities and government offices, as well as a total withdrawal of services nationwide.
The labour unions stressed that they would no longer tolerate what they described as empty promises, bureaucratic delays, or the continued marginalisation of health workers.
They added that the Federal Ministry of Health would be held fully responsible for any disruption resulting from its inaction.
Consequently, all TUC and NLC affiliates, including state councils across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, have been placed on alert and directed to commence mobilisation.
The unions urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps within the ultimatum period to avert what they described as an avoidable nationwide shutdown.
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