Health Ministry over CONHESS delay
The Nigerian health sector is standing on the edge of a major crisis as the nation’s primary labor centers, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have issued a “final and irrevocable” 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Health. This bold move follows years of unresolved grievances regarding the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
If the government fails to act by the end of this two-week window, which officially commenced on January 23, 2026, the country faces a total and coordinated nationwide industrial action.
Why are TUC and NLC Threatening a Strike?
At the heart of this brewing storm is the delayed implementation of the 2021 Technical Committee report on the adjustment of CONHESS. For over five years, health workers under this structure have waited for the government to finalize salary adjustments intended to fix distortions within the sector.
The CONHESS vs. CONMESS Disparity
The unions have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as “selective implementation” and “institutional discrimination.” They pointed out that while the government promptly implemented adjustments for the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)—which covers medical doctors—as far back as 2014, health workers under CONHESS (including nurses, pharmacists, and lab scientists) have been left in the lurch.
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