Nigeria is staring down the possibility of another major industrial crisis as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly issued a stern 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. The unions are demanding an immediate adjustment to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), warning that a nationwide strike is inevitable if their grievances remain unaddressed.
The core of the dispute lies in what the labor centers describe as a “deliberate and provocative” refusal by the Federal Ministry of Health to implement a technical committee report that has been gathering dust since 2021. According to a joint statement signed by Comrade General NA Toro of the TUC and Comrade Benson Upah of the NLC, the government’s failure to act has subjected thousands of health workers to years of avoidable hardship and financial inequality.
One of the most pressing issues raised by the unions is the perceived discrimination within the health sector. Reports reaching Zoyols Blog highlight that while the government was quick to adjust the salary structure for medical doctors, other health professionals have been left waiting for years. Labor leaders argue that this selective justice proves a lack of sincere commitment to fairness and equity, which is now threatening the fragile industrial harmony within the nation’s hospitals.
The unions expressed deep frustration over their previous attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue. They noted that repeated meetings with the Ministry of Health have yielded nothing but silence and bureaucratic excuses. Consequently, the TUC and NLC have declared this 14-day ultimatum, effective from January 23, 2026, as their final and irrevocable warning before taking action.
If the deadline passes without a concrete resolution, the country should prepare for a total withdrawal of services. Organized labor has already directed its affiliates across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to begin immediate mobilization. This planned industrial action would include mass protests and the picketing of government offices and health institutions nationwide.
The labor centers emphasized that they will no longer tolerate empty promises or the continued marginalization of vital health workers. They urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to prevent a national shutdown, making it clear that the responsibility for any resulting disruption to the healthcare system rests entirely with the Ministry of Health.
