Federal Government on Thursday warned that the preponderance of strike actions in health and other critical sectors might truncate the attainment of national goals and aspirations.
Clement Illoh, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, issued the warning while receiving the report of the fact-finding committee on the industrial crisis that paralysed activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, for the substantial part of 2014 and middle of 2015.
According to him, the industrial action was necessitated by the alleged introduction of Public Private Partnership (PPP) by the medical director of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Angela Uwakwem, and allegations of gross financial misconduct and highhandedness against her.
Illoh, who stressed the need for various actors in industrial disputes to embrace social dialogue in resolving their differences, expressed optimism that the industrial harmony would help government to realise developmental agenda.
He however expressed optimism that the committee made far-reaching recommendations that would restore, promote industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.
‘’The penchant to resort to strikes and disruption of work processes remains inimical to the overall development of the country, and more importantly and in the case of Federal Medical Centre Owerri (FMCO), jeopardise the lives of Nigerians who need the services of the centre in order to stay alive.
“As part of our statutory duties, we are going to do the monitoring of the implementation of the report of the recommendations to see how far the issue of sustenance and promotion of industrial peace which is critical at this stage of our nation’s development.
“We will monitor and probably set up a tripartite monitoring committee that will monitor the progress,” he said.
In his remarks, Linus Awute, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, said the report of the fact-finding committee was the best thing that had happened to the health sector.
“We are going to do the needful to make sure that actions are taken based on the recommendations of the report that we are going to do believing that we are doing so in the best interest of the nation,” Awute noted.
While calling on Care Givers to be responsible and accountable to the people to justify the salaries they earn, he condemned in strong terms the incessant strikes embark by health workers which he described as detrimental to the progress of the nation.
He said: ‘’Those of us who are fortunate to find ourselves on the payroll of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be responsible by being accountable for the job we undertake which is why we are earning salaries from the tax payers money.
“So if our primary responsibility is to give care, then the patients that we are to care for should be paramount and must be considered even in the time of anger.’’
On his part, Nyamali Audu, chairman of the Fact finding committee urged Federal Ministry of Health to as a matter of urgency start the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee to avoid further disruption of the activities at the Medical Centre.
He also warned that unionism is not a license for impunity adding that there are statutory provisions in the extant labour law that guides the relationship between unions and management on how to manage and resolve industrial disputes.
