The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it is working “in good faith” to prevent any disruption in the health sector, disclosing ongoing talks with key professional groups — including doctors and nurses — to keep hospitals open and health workers on duty.

 

Speaking to State House correspondents after Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, praised the President’s leadership in what he described as a “revolution” in the health sector.

 

Pate acknowledged recent union agitations and the risk of strike actions but emphasized that the government remains committed to dialogue and compromise. He pointed to “unprecedented” investments approved by President Tinubu in federal health institutions, citing visible improvements in infrastructure and equipment upgrades across Nigeria’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.

 

 

 

Highlighting specific progress, Pate referenced newly launched oncology centres in Katsina, Enugu, and Maiduguri, which he said are examples of the President’s commitment to improving cancer care.

 

“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 stated, adding that patients now have access to local options for treatment unless they choose otherwise.

 

 

 

The minister further revealed that the FEC approved the upgrade of the Oncology Centre at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, including installation of a Linear Accelerator and other advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment.

 

He noted that additional oncology centres in Lagos, Nasarawa, and other states are underway as part of massive ongoing projects.

 

Pate also praised the commissioning of over 10 major health projects at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, describing it as potentially one of the largest hospitals in West Africa, if not the continent. The projects include:

 

A neurology centre

 

A stroke centre

 

A heart centre

 

An interventional radiology centre

 

A revamped oncology centre

 

 

“This country has never witnessed such attention by a president to boost the health system,” he said.

 

 

 

He credited the efforts of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget, and the wider presidential team for translating the President’s vision of world-class health facilities into reality.

 

On labour relations, Pate acknowledged two years of relative peace and industrial harmony but admitted that recent tensions were sparked by a controversial wage circular.

 

“We acknowledge that a recent circular from the Accrued Wages Commission, based on earlier directives, triggered discontent among various health professional groups,” he said. “This is a listening government. The circular was withdrawn, and now we are negotiating transparently on allowance increments.”

 

 

 

He confirmed active dialogue with major associations including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which had issued an ultimatum regarding unresolved welfare issues.

 

The minister said the government is also addressing nurses’ demands, including the call for centralised postings to ensure fairness.

 

“Those ones, we’ve agreed, will be managed centrally — that’s the fair thing to do,” Pate assured.

 

 

 

He noted that not all grievances are financial, adding:

 

“This government is committed to ensuring that everyone in the health sector is respected and their needs addressed to the best extent possible.”

 

 

 

Further discussions with union leaders were scheduled for Thursday to seek lasting peace and address remaining concerns.

 

“We call on all health workers to put the Nigerian person at the centre of our attention,” he urged. “There are issues we can resolve through negotiation, and we are intent, in good faith, to find ways to resolve them over time. Because at the end of the day, the health workers are the lifeblood of the healthcare system.”

 

 

 

Pate assured that government would continue to find ways to address welfare concerns within available resources and disclosed that President Tinubu had urged the health team to double down on both infrastructure and workforce welfare.

 

He concluded by urging union leaders to maintain faith in government’s commitment, stressing that the focus is to keep hospitals operational and ensure continuous service delivery by health workers.