The Federal Government has inaugurated the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the Health Sector, officially commencing negotiations with major health unions in line with Articles 1 and 2 of the Guidelines on Collective Bargaining Agreement Machinery.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who led the inauguration in Abuja on Friday, said the initiative aimed to build a fair and sustainable framework for the nation’s health workforce.
“The convocation of this Committee is a milestone towards building a fair and sustainable framework for our health workforce. Health workers are central to our mission of delivering quality healthcare, and it is our duty to ensure that their needs are addressed with sincerity, transparency, and mutual respect,” Pate said.
The high-level ceremony was attended by the Minister of Labour & Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako; senior officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF); Federal Ministry of Finance; Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission; and the Budget Office of the Federation, among others.
Negotiations will engage the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), focusing on remuneration, working conditions, professional development, and welfare of health workers.
Minister of Labour & Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, described collective bargaining as “a proven pathway to industrial peace and sectoral stability,” stressed that the process seeks to safeguard health workers’ welfare while ensuring uninterrupted quality healthcare for Nigerians.
Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said the exercise is “a critical step in the broader health sector reform agenda” and will help shape the future of healthcare delivery in the country.
The Federal Government urged all parties to negotiate in good faith, with a spirit of compromise and commitment to advancing the health and well-being of Nigerians.
