Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Nigeria’s two foremost organised labour centres — the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) — have escalated their dispute with the Federal Government by issuing a final 14‑day ultimatum demanding the implementation of a long‑pending salary adjustment for health workers or face a coordinated nationwide strike that could disrupt public and private sector services across the country. The ultimatum takes effect from January 23, 2026, and reflects rising tensions between labour and government over equity, fairness and the treatment of health sector employees.
In a joint statement released on Friday and signed by Comrade General N.A. Toro, Secretary General of the TUC, and Comrade Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, the unions condemned what they described as the “persistent and deliberate refusal” of the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant government agencies to act on the 2021 Technical Committee report on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS). They said the prolonged delay — nearly five years after the committee submitted its findings — has inflicted hardship on health workers and constitutes “bad faith, injustice and institutional disrespect” toward organised labour.
The TUC and NLC argue that while the government has already implemented adjustments to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical doctors with effect from January 2, 2014, its failure to do the same for other health workers under CONHESS amounts to discriminatory practice within the same sector. Labour leaders say this selective implementation undermines fairness, equity and industrial harmony, and has forced health workers into a situation of unequal treatment despite their critical role in sustaining the nation’s healthcare system.
The unions described the ultimatum as “final and irrevocable”, warning that if the Federal Government does not act within the 14‑day window, organised labour will mobilise workers nationwide for total and coordinated industrial action. Planned actions include mass protests, picketing of health institutions and government offices, and a nationwide withdrawal of services across both public and private sectors until the dispute is resolved. All TUC and NLC affiliates, including state councils across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, have been placed on red alert and directed to begin mobilisation for possible action.
Labour leaders emphasised that the ultimatum was issued after repeated engagements, negotiations and efforts to maintain industrial peace. They criticised what they characterised as arrogant unresponsiveness from the Ministry of Health, expressing frustration that assurances and promises have given way to bureaucratic delays and what they see as a lack of political will to address pay inequalities affecting thousands of health workers.
The conflict comes against a backdrop of growing discontent among health professionals over pay, working conditions and welfare. Separate health sector unions, such as the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), have been engaged in their own disputes with the government, including prolonged strike actions in recent months over unresolved salary and welfare issues. In some cases, these disputes have already led to significant disruptions in federal health institutions, with reports of hospitals operating on skeletal services and essential units shut across major cities.
Organised labour’s move also follows earlier confrontations over government directives, including a controversial “no work, no pay” policy enforced against striking health workers, which the unions condemned as authoritarian and destabilising to an already fragile healthcare system. Critics within the labour movement argue that punitive policies have exacerbated tensions rather than fostering constructive dialogue or addressing the core grievances of health sector employees.
Government response to the ultimatum has so far been muted, with official channels yet to publicly commit to immediate action on the CONHESS report. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains under pressure to clarify its position, while labour leaders maintain that failure to act will leave them with no option but to escalate industrial action.
Analysts suggest that a nationwide strike by organised labour could have far‑reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy and public services. Health workers play a central role in delivering care at all levels of the healthcare system, and a coordinated withdrawal of services could strain hospitals, clinics and community health centres, particularly in areas already grappling with limited resources and workforce shortages. Additionally, mass protests and picketing could disrupt civic life and government operations, heightening public anxiety as tensions escalate between labour and authorities.
The ultimatum also raises questions about the broader relationship between the government and organised labour, especially at a time when Nigeria is navigating complex challenges including inflationary pressures, public sector reforms and debates over wages and employment conditions. Labour analysts point out that tensions over salary structures and welfare demands are symptomatic of deeper structural issues in Nigeria’s public service system, where delayed adjustments and perceived inequities have fuelled recurring disputes.
Labour leaders have appealed to the Federal Government to act swiftly within the ultimatum period to avert what they describe as an “avoidable national shutdown.” They stress that their preference remains for negotiation and peaceful resolution, but insist that decisive action is necessary to uphold fairness and protect the rights and dignity of health workers who continue to serve under challenging conditions.
The coming days will be critical as the 14‑day ultimatum counts down. If the government meets labour’s demands, tensions could ease and avert industrial unrest. However, failure to act could draw Nigeria into one of its most significant labour disputes in recent years, with consequences felt by workers, patients and government alike.
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