Industrial Harmony: FG Meets Leadership Of Health Unions Over Ongoing Reconciliation

By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Abuja

In a decisive move towards sustaining industrial harmony among critical stakeholders in the health sector, the Federal Government has engaged the leadership of all health sector unions and associations as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts aimed at bringing peace in the nation’s health sector.

Leading the Federal Government delegation, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, reiterated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu holds Nigeria’s health workers in the highest esteem and remains committed to improving their welfare.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appreciates all Nigeria’s health workers, whom he regards as key to realizing the Renewed Hope Agenda for the health sector. His administration has made significant investments in infrastructure, equipment, services, and welfare—and will do even more.”

The Minister emphasized that the timely implementation of agreements recently reached with the health sector unions is critical to maintaining the functionality of the healthcare system, which has undergone significant reforms over the past two years.

According to the Minister, the country is already reaping the benefits of these reforms, with Nigerian Hospitals now receiving patients from other West African countries as well as
Europe and America.

Prof Pate while acknowledging the dedication of health workers, expressed satisfaction with the level of discussions held over the past week,” to ensure effective implementation of the agreements, the Federal Government has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Izaq Adekunle Salako.

The committee he said, comprises of Ms. Daju Kachollom, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, representative, Ministry of Labour and Employment, delegate from Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission representatives, Federal Ministry of Finance, and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and the Budget Office

In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu, commended the unions as well as the Ministers of Health and Social Welfare, stressing that the implementation of the agreements must be consistent and uniform and urged that continuous dialogue between the government and the unions be sustained for lasting industrial harmony.