The Federal Government (FG) has kicked off formal talks with unions in the health sector after inaugurating a new committee on collective bargaining in Abuja on Saturday.
Leading the ceremony, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Ali Pate said the initiative was designed to create a fairer deal for medical professionals and other healthcare workers.
“The convocation of this committee is a milestone towards building a fair and sustainable framework for our health workforce. Health workers are central to our mission of delivering quality healthcare, and we must ensure that their needs are addressed with sincerity, transparency, and mutual respect,” says Pate in a release shared by the ministry’s spokesperson, Alaba Balogun.
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The committee is expected to engage directly with key professional bodies, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
Negotiations will centre on pay packages, working conditions, career development, and welfare.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, who attended the inauguration, stressed that collective bargaining offered a proven route to stability in the sector.
“We intend to find common ground that ensures the welfare of our health workers while protecting the public’s access to uninterrupted, quality healthcare,” Dingyadi said.
Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, linked the talks to broader reforms, noting,”We are not just negotiating terms — we are shaping the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.”
Also in attendance were senior representatives from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office, and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The Federal Government urged the unions and all stakeholders to enter discussions with compromise and commitment, emphasising that cooperation was key to ensuring stability in the country’s health system.
