Editor
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has called for the establishment of a mechanism to promote industrial peace and harmony among various union bodies within the health sector.
Dr. Salako made this statement during a recent courtesy visit from members of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standard Committee (NTHISC).
Emphasizing the importance of sustained industrial harmony in the health sector, Dr. Salako noted that it is essential for achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of improved healthcare services nationwide.
He underscored that a reliable system to prevent industrial actions in this critical sector is a key priority to rebuilding public trust in both healthcare workers and the government.
Building on this point, the Honourable Minister urged the NTHISC to develop strategies aimed at mitigating tensions among unions within the sector.
Addressing financial limitations affecting the committee’s work, Dr. Salako encouraged the members to pursue financial independence to ensure sustainability.
He further assured them that the Federal Government would provide support in establishing a path toward this goal.
Earlier, Prof. Philip O. Abiodun, Chairman of the Committee, highlighted the major challenges facing the NTHISC, including funding and inadequate office facilities.
He stressed that intervention from the Ministry was crucial to overcoming these obstacles and achieving the committee’s mandate.
The National Tertiary Health Institutions Standard Committee, which comprises experienced health professionals, was inaugurated in November of the previous year. Its mandate includes conducting investigations and making recommendations to both federal and state governments on tertiary healthcare services in the national interest.
The committee advises the federal government on the financial requirements—both recurrent and capital—necessary for the effective delivery of tertiary health services, as well as studying the financial needs for training, research, and service provision.
