The Nigerian Government on Saturday inaugurated the Committee on Collective Bargaining for the Health Sector, formally launching negotiations with major health unions in line with Articles 1 and 2 of the Guidelines on Collective Bargaining Agreement Machinery.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, who led the inauguration in Abuja, said the initiative aimed to establish a fair and sustainable framework for the nation’s health workforce.
“This committee marks a milestone in our effort to build a fair and sustainable framework for our health workers. They are central to our mission of delivering quality healthcare, and we must address their needs with sincerity, transparency, and mutual respect,” Pate said in a statement by the ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun.
The inauguration was attended by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako; and senior officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and the Budget Office.
Negotiations will engage unions such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), focusing on pay, working conditions, professional development, and staff welfare.
Dingyadi described collective bargaining as a proven means of ensuring industrial peace and stability, while Salako called the initiative a crucial step in broader health sector reforms.
The government urged all parties to negotiate in good faith, embrace compromise, and prioritise the health and well-being of Nigerians.