As the current face-off between the Federal Government and the Joint Health Staff Union JOHESU seems to get messier, the Federal Government has warned the Nigeria Medical Association NMA to desist from making statements that could further jeopardize negotiations.

Minister of Labour and Productivity Dr. Chris Ngige made this known yesterday in Abuja through the Director of Press in the ministry Prince Samuel Olowookere.

In the statement by the minister, such meddlesomeness arising from an unhealthy inter-union rivalry will adversely put pressure on social dialogue mechanism, clog the wheel of progress and in this instance, retard the return of industrial harmony in the entire health sector.

“The attention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has been drawn to media reports credited to the new Executive of the NMA, wherein the body has taken to meddlesome interloping in the ongoing negotiations with the striking Joint Health Sector Unions.

“Hence, the NMA should desist from further interference of any form, in the ongoing negotiation and stop issuing threats to the Federal Government as it is firmly resolved to achieve a lasting industrial peace in all sectors without prejudice to perceived group interests.

“Besides, I wish to appeal again to JOHESU to call off its strike as the CONHESS table that corresponds with the 2014 CONMESS adjustment with medical doctors has been appropriately addressed by the National Salary Income and Wages Commission and given as an offer in the spirit of equity,” he stated.

Ngige pleaded with the union to consider the tragic consequences which the strike action has already brought on the vulnerable patients in hospitals across the nation.

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