The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to implement the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).

The ultimatum, which takes effect from January 23, 2026, warns that failure to act within the stipulated period will trigger a nationwide industrial action involving workers across both the public and private sectors.

In a joint statement signed by the Secretary General of the TUC, Comrade N. A. Toro, and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah, the unions condemned what they described as the persistent refusal of the Federal Ministry of Health and concerned agencies 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.

According to the unions, the prolonged delay has gone beyond an administrative lapse and amounts to “a conscious act of injustice, bad faith, and institutional disrespect” toward health workers and organised labour.

They warned that continued inaction would no longer be tolerated, stressing that failure to comply within 14 days would compel organised labour to mobilise Nigerian workers nationwide for “a total and coordinated industrial action.”

The statement said the action would include mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, and a nationwide withdrawal of services until the issue is resolved.

“It is therefore unacceptable, and a blatant provocation, while the government had no difficulty implementing the adjustment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) with effect from 2nd January 2014, the same government has willfully refused to implement same for CONHESS,” the unions said.

“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 labour centres also accused the Ministry of Health of ignoring repeated engagements aimed at maintaining industrial peace.

“Despite repeated interventions, engagements, and restraint exercised by the leadership of the TUC and NLC in the interest of peace, the Ministry of Health has remained arrogantly unresponsive, offering excuses instead of action. This attitude amounts to a gross abuse of trust and a direct challenge to organised labour,” the statement added.

The unions disclosed that all affiliates, including the 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory chapters of both the TUC and NLC, have been placed on red alert and directed to commence mobilisation for nationwide action.

They urged the federal government to avert what they described as an avoidable national industrial crisis by implementing the CONHESS adjustment within the ultimatum period.