The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning that failure to address the demands of health workers could trigger a nationwide strike.
The labour centres said the ongoing industrial action by members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) may escalate into a broader national shutdown if the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) does not immediately implement the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
In a joint statement signed by the Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Tommy Okon, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, the unions described the ultimatum as “final and irrevocable,” effective from Friday, January 23, 2026.
They called for the immediate and unconditional implementation of the CONHESS adjustment in line with existing precedents in the health sector.
The unions accused the Federal Government of deliberately failing to act on the Technical Committee report submitted since 2021, describing the delay as a conscious act of injustice, bad faith, and institutional disregard for health workers and organised labour.
They noted that the government had previously approved and implemented adjustments to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) with effect from January 2, 2014, arguing that the refusal to extend similar treatment to CONHESS amounted to selective justice and discriminatory policy implementation within the same sector.
According to the statement, failure to comply with the ultimatum would force organised labour to mobilise workers across the public and private sectors for a coordinated nationwide industrial action.
The planned action would involve mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, as well as a total withdrawal of services nationwide.
The labour centres also expressed frustration over what they described as the Federal Ministry of Health’s persistent unresponsiveness, despite repeated engagements aimed at preserving industrial harmony.
They said the ministry had continued to offer excuses instead of concrete action, describing the situation as a gross abuse of trust and a direct challenge to organised labour.
“The TUC and NLC will no longer tolerate empty promises, bureaucratic obstruction, or the continued marginalisation of health workers whose services sustain the nation,” the statement said, warning that the Ministry of Health would bear full responsibility for the consequences of its inaction.
Consequently, the unions placed all affiliated unions, the 36 state councils, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) councils of both labour centres on red alert, directing them to begin mobilisation for nationwide action.
They urged the Federal Government to avert what they described as an avoidable national industrial crisis by addressing the health workers’ demands within the stipulated 14-day period.
