The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a final warning to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate withdrawal of a circular enforcing a “No Work, No Pay” regime and the stoppage of salaries of members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) from January 2026.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the TUC described the circular—issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Abisola Adegoke—as “reckless, authoritarian and confrontational,” warning that it amounts to a direct declaration of hostility against Nigerian workers.
The statement, signed by TUC President, Comrade Festus Keyamo, and Secretary General, Dr. Nuhu Toro, condemned the directive, which mandates the implementation of the policy through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), describing it as a gross abuse of power and a deliberate attempt to undermine ongoing negotiations.
“This circular is not policy; it is intimidation, and Congress will not accept it,” the TUC said, accusing the ministry of negotiating with workers on one hand while punishing them with the other.
The labour centre faulted the Ministry of Health for abandoning dialogue in favour of what it described as strong-arm tactics inconsistent with democratic governance, warning that such an approach could deepen industrial tensions.
According to the TUC, JOHESU members form the backbone of Nigeria’s already strained health system and are working under intense pressure. It said any attempt to weaponise their salaries would be seen as an attack on all workers.
“The stoppage of salaries of JOHESU members, workers who daily save lives, is wicked, insensitive, provocative and profoundly unpatriotic,” the statement read, noting that the action comes amid worsening economic hardship, inflation and fuel price hikes.
The Congress further accused the government of turning state institutions into instruments of coercion, warning that the use of IPPIS to punish workers sets a dangerous precedent for other sectors.
By targeting JOHESU, the TUC said the ministry was attempting to intimidate the broader workforce into submission, stressing that Nigerian workers have historically resisted such pressure.
Issuing what it called a “final and non-negotiable demand,” the TUC gave the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare seven days to withdraw the circular, restore all affected salaries, and return to the negotiation table.
It warned that failure to comply would trigger a wider confrontation beyond the health sector, with organised labour prepared to mobilise workers nationwide for decisive action.
To underscore its readiness, the TUC placed all its affiliates, state councils, and the Federal Capital Territory council on red alert and on standby for further directives.
The Congress cautioned that any industrial unrest or disruption of essential services arising from the standoff would be the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and its leadership.
Reaffirming its solidarity with JOHESU, the TUC said it would continue to resist intimidation and defend the rights of Nigerian workers, describing the dispute as a test of the country’s commitment to democratic labour practices.
