Nigeria’s two largest labour unions have threatened to shut down activities across the country over the federal government’s alleged failure to implement a revised salary structure for health workers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said they have 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 result in a nationwide industrial action.
In a joint statement 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 23 January 2026.
They are demanding the immediate implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (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 said.
The unions warned that failure to comply within the deadline would lead to coordinated industrial action involving workers in both the 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 labour centres accused the Federal Ministry of Health of deliberate inaction and the continued marginalisation of health workers, whose services they said are critical to Nigeria’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.
The unions said the delay in implementing the Technical Committee report, submitted since 2021, had gone beyond an administrative failure.
“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,” they said.
They also criticised the government for implementing adjustments to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure while failing to apply the same changes to 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,” the unions said.
Describing the situation as discriminatory, the unions warned that selective implementation of policy undermines fairness and industrial harmony within the health sector.
The NLC and TUC said they have placed all their affiliates and state councils on alert and directed their 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory to begin mobilisation for nationwide action.
Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have already been on strike since 15 November 2025, citing the government’s failure to implement the adjusted CONHESS and address longstanding welfare concerns.
JOHESU represents several unions, including the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, and other health and non-academic staff associations.
