The Federal Government is set to establish a sectoral guideline for the health sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. William Alo, disclosed this at the stakeholders’ meeting for the Development of Guidelines for the Health Sector in Abuja.
“A functional health system is akin to productive and functional workforce which is a catalyst for the growth and development of the Nation’s economy”, he said.
He maintained that, “the meeting is coming at no better time than now, considering the enormous challenges facing the health sector which has become inimical to the promotion of industrial relations, peace and harmony in the health sector”.
According to Alo, “it is common knowledge that a healthy nation is a wealthy one and no country can achieve this without a harmonious and peaceful working relationship within its industrial space”.
He, therefore, urged the stakeholders to fully participate in the discussions as their contributions at the meeting will proffer solutions to rebuild and strengthen the health institutions to achieve the objectives for which they were established by the Government.
Earlier in her welcome address, Director, Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations (TUSIR), Mrs. Omoabie Akpan stated that, the sector is a panacea to National Development saying, ”if you are not healthy, you cannot be productive. Since the health sector has been identified as one of the sectors that are prone to industrial crisis, the need for the ministry to develop guidelines that will enhance sustainable industrial peace and harmony in the sector was paramount”.
In their separate goodwill messages, drawn from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Employee Industrial Relations (EIR), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), and a Representative of Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCS) said the initiative of the Ministry to develop guidelines for the Health Sector is commendable and enjoined all stakeholders to be steadfast in the process as the guidelines will help in fostering unity, peace and harmony in the sector.
