The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued a final 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant government agencies over the continued non-implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), warning that failure to act would trigger a nationwide strike.
The labour centres accused the Ministry of Health of what they described as sustained injustice against health workers, saying the prolonged delay in adjusting CONHESS was deliberate, provocative and unacceptable.
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, organised labour faulted the Federal Government for refusing to implement the report of the Technical Committee on CONHESS, which was chaired by the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
According to the unions, the failure to act has gone beyond administrative oversight and now amounts to bad faith, institutional disrespect and unfair treatment of health workers who continue to render essential services under harsh conditions.
“The continued refusal to implement the Technical Committee’s report on CONHESS is a clear demonstration of bad faith and injustice against health workers,” the statement said. “More than five years after the report was submitted, workers under CONHESS are still subjected to hardship, frustration and inequality.”
The labour centres also condemned what they described as discriminatory treatment within the health sector, noting that while the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) was reviewed and implemented, CONHESS has been deliberately ignored.
“This selective application of salary policies contradicts government’s claims of fairness, equity and commitment to industrial harmony,” the unions added.
They further accused the Ministry of Health of responding to repeated engagements with excuses and silence, describing the ministry’s posture as arrogant and a betrayal of trust.
Organised labour announced that the 14-day ultimatum takes effect from this year, demanding the immediate implementation of the Technical Committee report on CONHESS in line with existing precedents within the health sector.
The TUC and NLC warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would result in coordinated nationwide industrial action, including mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, as well as a total withdrawal of services across the country.
“We will no longer tolerate empty promises, bureaucratic obstruction or the continued marginalisation of health workers whose services are critical to national wellbeing,” the statement said.
All TUC and NLC affiliates nationwide, including the 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory, have been placed on red alert and directed to begin mobilisation ahead of the planned action.
The labour centres advised the Federal Government to act swiftly to avert an avoidable national shutdown, warning that the Ministry of Health would be held fully responsible for the consequences of any continued inaction.
