The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to invest more in health and education sector in order to boost productivity in the country.
Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said this during an Award Investiture on Mr Joy-Josiah Biobelemoye, President, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The award was by the Independent Award Committee of the Ethics Resource Centre Nigeria (ERCN).
Wabba said that it was imperative for the government to invest more in this two sectors as COVID-19 had exposed the challenges of the sectors of the economy.
According to him, the pandemic has thrown up the need for government all over the world to prioritise education and health as they shape development across the world.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some challenges in two critical sectors of the economy. These two sectors are education sector and health sector, shaped development everywhere around the world.
“Therefore we need more investment in health and we need more investment in education. Our people need to be healthy and educated to be productive,” he said.
Wabba lauded Biobelemoye, adding that it was an honour well deserved because even other unions in the committee of unions agreed that the MHWUN is one of the leading unions in the country.
Speaking, Biobelemoye called on the Minister of Health to urgently correct the error made during payment of COVID-19 hazard allowances.
He said since the ministry accepted there was an error, the ideal thing was to address it without delay in order to avoid an industry action.
“We entered into agreement with the federal ministry of health where the ministry agreed that there was error in the implementation of the COVID-19 allowances. People who are earning N5,000 that ought to have been prepared on 50 per cent were given 10 per cent.
“Well, in our traditional way, we didn’t immediately rush on to strike, we engaged government and they have seen that reason. We are believing and hoping that before they pay the third batch, that correction will be made.
“Thank God the media is here. I want to make a very bright appeal to the federal ministry of health as well as the Nigerian government. Do not lead us into temptation. I say again, do not lead us into temptation.
“That correction should be made along with every other demand we have made peacefully should be given to us, so that they don’t push us into embarking on strikes that we know will negatively impact on Nigerians,” he said.
He further said that the union was open to dialogue, saying that dialogue must have a mark where it started and ended.
Biobelemoye commended the Centre on the award as the medical worker of the decade.
“Its beyond expression and it is out of the ordinary, especially now that we are at the forefront, fighting to protect Nigerians from the savage that is COVID-19.
“I pledge that I shall continue to share your ideals of excellence and commitment to my vocation for the rest of the period of my sojourn on earth,” he said.
Prof. Ike Onyechere, Chairman, Independent Award Committee, Ethics Resource Centre, said the award was conferred on the health workers union president in recognition of his outstanding and visionary leadership.
Also Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, appealed to health workers to continue to work for improved service delivery in the system.
Bello, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources, Muhammad Bashir, added that he would prioritise the welfare of health workers in the FCT.
