Salako Calls For Mechanism To Stop Industrial Action ..... Says It Will Ensure Industrial Peace And Harmony

 .... Charges members of the NTHISC to initiate strategies in this direction to diffuse tension amongst the unions in the sector.

..... Admonished members on financial independence for its sustainability.

Nigeria's Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako has called for a mechanism that will ensure industrial peace and harmony amongst the various union bodies in the health sector.

Dr. Iziaq made this call when he received in audience in his office, members of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standard Committee (NTHISC) on a courtesy visit.

The Minister of State highlighted the importance of achieving and sustaining industrial harmony in the Health sector, stressing that it is critical to the attainment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's agenda for improving health care services in the country.

A mechanism that will stop industrial actions in a crucial sector as health, Dr. Salako emphasized, is therefore key priority to rebuilding public confidence in health workers and the Government.

Riding on this submission, Dr. Salako charged members of the NTHISC to initiate strategies in this direction to diffuse tension amongst the unions in the sector.

Speaking on financial constraints affecting the activities of the committee, he admonished members on financial independence for its sustainability. The Federal Government, he added, will assist the committee on initiating a right path.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Philip O. Abiodun said that a major challenge of the committee is funding and, unequipped office accommodation; emphasizing, Ministry's intervention in addressing these constraints is very critical and, essential to achieving its mandate. 

It is pertinent to state that the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standard Committee which comprise seasoned health professionals was inaugurated last year November.

It has a mandate to make relevant investigations and recommendations to the federal and state governments on tertiary health care services in the national interest; advise the federal government on the financial needs, both recurrent and capital of tertiary health services and, in particular investigate and study the financial needs for training, research and services.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.