Minister says NMA’s actions will retard the return of industrial harmony in the entire health sector
Nigeria’s labour and employment minister, Chris Ngige, has slammed the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for taking actions that could make it difficult for the government to reach an agreement with the striking health workers under the umbrella body of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
It would be recalled that healthnews.africa reported NMA issued a press statement directing the government not to honor almost all of the demands made by JOHESU claiming several of the problems mentioned by the striking health workers are sacrosanct and are a reflection of the relativity that must exist in the health sector.
Ngige however directed the leadership of the NMA to stay away from the ongoing strike by JOHESU members, noting that NMA’s activities are making it difficult for government to resolve issues that led to the strike.
The Minister, in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowokore said the doctors should stop meddling in the strike, adding that such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism.
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has been drawn to media reports credited to the new Executive of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) wherein the body has taken to meddlesome interloping in the ongoing negotiations with the striking Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)
“The Minister wishes to state that in trade unionism, such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism, clog the wheel of progress and in this instance, retard the return of industrial harmony in the entire health sector.
“Hence, the NMA should desist from further interference of any form, in the ongoing negotiation as well as stop issuing threats to the Federal Government as it is firmly resolved to achieve a lasting industrial peace in all sectors without prejudice to perceived group interests.
He then urged the striking health workers to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity.
“I wish to once more appeal to JOHESU to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with the Medical Doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity. I therefore plead that you consider the tragic consequences your action has already brought on the vulnerable patients in hospitals across the nation.”