The federal government’s negotiating team for the resolution of the lingering crisis in the health sector has taken another firm step towards the restoration of industrial harmony in the sector.
The team was made up of: the minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole , minister of state for Health, Dr. O. Ehanire, chairman of the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule and others.
According to Sen. Ngige, who addressed the press, there was an overriding need for social dialogue as the only sure way to industrial peace.
“We have set up two committees ; one is to look into the issue of JOHESU’s demands for relativity circular to enable them get reasonable wages while the other is to look into the issue of skipping because members of the Health Sector Unions of nurses and midwives association and the laboratory association want to skip a particular grade level,” he said.
He revealed that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also made a joint position on skipping, hence the need to harmonise the positions in the spirit of collective bargaining, bearing in mind, the extant economic down turn in the country.
Also, the minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole emphasised the essence of peace in the all-important health sector, promising that it was the beginning of lasting peace in the sector.
