FG Inaugurates Collective Bargaining Committee for Health Sector
FG Inaugurates Collective Bargaining Committee for Health Sector
By Binta Bukar
A health sector collective bargaining committee that will formally commence negotiations with major unions in the sector has been inaugurated.
The inauguration was done in line with articles one and two of the Guidelines on Collective Bargaining Agreement Machinery.
Its inauguration by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate represents a milestone in building a fair and sustainable framework for Nigeria’s health workforce.
Pate noted that health workers are central to delivering quality healthcare and assured that government remains committed to addressing their needs with sincerity, transparency, and mutual respect.
The Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammadu Dingyadi stressed that collective bargaining is a proven pathway to industrial peace and sectoral stability.
He said the process is aimed at finding common ground to protect both the welfare of health workers and the public’s access to uninterrupted, quality healthcare.
The Nigerian Government urged all parties to approach the negotiations in good faith, compromise, and a shared commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Nigerians.
The high-level ceremony had in attendance the Minister of Labour and Employment, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako; senior officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Budget Office among others.
Negotiations are expected to involve structured engagements with the Nigerian Medical Association , the Joint Health Sector Union and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, focusing on remuneration, working conditions, professional development, and welfare of health workers.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
