Labour unions warn of nationwide strike if CONHESS review in health sector is not implemented
Health: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of outstanding salary adjustments for health workers across the country.
The labour unions, in a joint statement, warned that failure to meet their demands within the stipulated period would result in a nationwide strike, potentially disrupting health services across Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to the unions, the Federal Government has failed to honour previous agreements reached with health sector unions, particularly the review and full implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which has remained unresolved for several years.
They accused the government of neglecting recommendations made by technical committees set up to resolve the salary issue, describing the continued delay as an act of bad faith towards health workers who play a critical role in sustaining the country’s healthcare system.
The labour centres stressed that health workers are increasingly frustrated by rising living costs and worsening economic conditions, warning that further delay could worsen industrial tensions in the sector.
The unions stated that if the ultimatum expires without concrete action, they will mobilise health workers for nationwide industrial action, including protests and withdrawal of services from public health facilities.
The 14-day ultimatum is expected to take effect from January 23, 2026, giving the Federal Government a limited window to prevent another major disruption in the health sector.
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