BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have given the Federal Ministry of Health a 14-day deadline to address outstanding demands over the implementation of a key salary review in the health sector.
The labour centres said the ultimatum follows the prolonged delay in enforcing the recommendations of the Technical Committee on the review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), a report submitted since 2021.
This position was outlined in a joint statement issued in Abuja on Saturday and signed by TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, and NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah.
According to the unions, the committee—headed by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission—was established to correct pay imbalances affecting health workers. However, more than five years after the process began, its findings remain unimplemented.
The labour leaders insisted that health professionals have shown considerable patience and warned that further delay would no longer be acceptable. They described the failure to act as an injustice to health workers and an indication of disregard for organised labour.
The unions also noted that adjustments to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) were approved and implemented promptly, describing the differing treatment as evidence of unfairness and lack of sincerity on the part of the government.
They further disclosed that repeated appeals and engagements with the Ministry of Health have yielded no concrete response, prompting the issuance of the ultimatum.
TUC and NLC cautioned that if the demands are not met within the stipulated timeframe, they will initiate nationwide industrial action. Possible measures, they said, include protests, picketing of health facilities, and suspension of services across the country.
Emphasising the critical role health workers play in sustaining the nation, the unions declared that excuses and unfulfilled assurances would no longer be tolerated. They also placed all affiliates, including state councils and the Federal Capital Territory, on alert for mobilisation.
The unions urged the government to prevent an avoidable labour crisis by fully implementing the CONHESS report within the 14-day deadline.
