By Egena Sunday Ode
The Federal Government has allayed fears of a possible shut down of health facilities across the country, saying it is already working to avert any disruption in the health sector, as talks are ongoing with nurses and doctors to keep health workers on duty.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on the outcomes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Thursday, even as he praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in driving what he described as a “revolution” in Nigeria’s health sector.
He also addressed growing concerns about union agitation and the risk of strikes, saying government remains committed to dialogue and compromise.
The Nigerian Medical Association, the umbrella union of doctors had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address grave welfare concerns of its members or risk an industrial action. Reports said Nurses in federal health institutions are already on strike.
Pate acknowledged the “two years of relative peace and industrial harmony” the sector has enjoyed, saying government is determined to sustain that climate despite recent tensions triggered by a controversial wage circular.
“We acknowledge that a recent circular from the Accrued Wages Commission, which was based on prior directives, precipitated discontent among various health professional groups,” he admitted. “This is a listening government.
“The circular was withdrawn, and now we are in the process of negotiating in a transparent manner the increment in allowances so that we meet those health workers on the needs that they have expressed.”
The Minister confirmed that government is in “active dialogue” with key associations, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which had issued an ultimatum over unresolved welfare matters.
“We engaged with their leadership, which was very constructive in its approach,” he said. “We extended that ultimatum while many of the outstanding issues have been looked into, including their outstanding arrears, for which the Minister of Finance is going to ensure that those are being disbursed over time.”
Pate said government is also addressing the demands of other health cadres, such as nurses, who have sought the centralisation of postings to ensure fairness. “Those ones, we’ve agreed, will be managed centrally — that’s the fair thing to do,” he said. “There are other issues, ordinary establishment issues, and we’re working to ensure that we meet them.
Not all of those issues are financial in nature, but this government is committed to ensuring that everyone in the health sector is respected and their needs addressed to the best extent possible.”
According to the Minister, further discussions with union leaders were scheduled for Thursday. “In the spirit of Mr. President, we intend to ensure lasting peace, resolve those issues to the extent possible, and continue in that direction,” he stated.
He called on health workers to keep their focus on patient care as talks continue: “We call on all health workers to put the Nigerian person at the center of our attention.
There are issues we can resolve through negotiation, and we are intent, in good faith, to continue to find ways to resolve those outstanding issues with them over time. Because at the end of the day, the health workers are the lifeblood of the healthcare system, and the infrastructure and equipment we are providing have to be complemented by the health workers.”
Pate assured that government would “find ways to address welfare concerns to the extent resources allow,” and said President Tinubu had encouraged him and his team to “double down” on both infrastructure development and worker welfare.
“We’re leaning in, and we’re trying to find resolutions,” Pate concluded. “We encourage the leaders of those unions to continue that faith. This government is committed to keeping hospitals open and nurses on duty.”
Pate also highlighted what he called “unprecedented” investments approved by President Tinubu in federal health institutions, noting visible progress in infrastructure and equipment upgrades across the country’s tertiary hospitals.
“We are seeing a revolution in terms of the infrastructure and equipment in federal tertiary institutions across our country,” the minister said. “Recently launched oncology centers in hospitals in Katsina, in Enugu, and in Maiduguri are just examples of what this President has approved.
“Resources have already been deployed, tangible results that Nigerians can see. Folks who are unfortunately facing the deadly disease of cancer may now choose to use our own resources here in this country, unless somebody chooses to do otherwise. “
“World-class infrastructure that this President has provided can attend to most kinds of cancers, and these are accompanied by human resources dedicated to cancer care.”
He disclosed that the FEC had approved another milestone project — the upgrade of the oncology centre at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. “In line with this health sector renewal investment initiative and today’s approval by the Federal Executive Council of an additional oncology center at the University College Hospital, this is a continuation of this trend of revolutionising the health infrastructure,” he said.
Pate explained that the upgrade would see the installation of advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment, including a Linear Accelerator for therapy. “This will enable Nigerians who are suffering from cancer to be catered for,” he said, adding that additional oncology centres in Lagos, Nasarawa, and other locations “are in the pipeline alongside many other massive projects.”
The minister also referenced the recently commissioned projects at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, which he described as “perhaps one of the largest hospitals in the West African region, maybe one of the largest on the continent.”
“This week alone, more than 10 major projects were commissioned there — a neurology center, a stroke center, a heart center, an interventional radiology center, and a revamped oncology center,” Pate said. “This country has never witnessed such attention by a president to boost the health system.”
He credited the collaborative effort of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget, and the wider presidential team for “delivering the vision of our President to begin to have world-class facilities all over our country.”
