Folashade Yemi-Esan, head of the Nigerian Civil Service, said the public service does not recognise the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as labour unions.

Speaking during the opening of the separate and joint meetings of the National Public Service Negotiating Councils on Monday, she also said the federal government was looking to introduce two councils in the education and health sectors, according to to PUNCH.

Yemi-Esan said, “While you sit at plenary, I ask that among other crucial matters to be discussed, you are enjoined to note that unions like the Nigeria Medical Association and the Academic Staff Union of Universities and their affiliates are not members of any recognised labour union in the public service, and government is considering bringing the Health and Education Sectors to constitute two additional councils, subject to recommendations emerging from the meetings.

READ ALSO: Lecturers Accuse Alex Ekwueme University Management, ASUU of Withholding Allowances Over IPPIS

“Sustaining industrial harmony in any sector of a country’s economy, including the public sector, is strategic and cardinal to national development. This is because there cannot be meaningful development in any country where the grievances of workers, who are the drivers of development, are ignored.

“In line with the principle and practice of collective bargaining, the government, particularly in recent times, has had to engage organised labour unions in constant dialogue. Thus, it is pleasing to note that such effort has not been in vain, as we can appreciate the evident harmonious industrial atmosphere in the country.

“Of course, this would not have been possible without the understanding and support of the organised labour unions for the policies and programmes of the government. Hence, our gathering here today is one of our relentless efforts towards ensuring the sustenance of this cordial relationship.

READ ALSO: Ngige’s Daughter Graduates from UNILAG Medical School as Doctors’ Strike Reaches Day 40

“As you know, the public service is the instrument of government for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects, leveraging on efficient aggregation and deployment of human and material resources. This role, over the years, necessitated reforms that redefined, restructured and repositioned the public service to enable it respond to the socio-economic and political dynamics of public administration.”

Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, and Ayuba Wabba, National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, were in attendance.

NMA and ASUU have disagreed with the federal government on various occasions. The unions regularly lament poor welfare of members, among others. In 2021, the NMA backed the decision of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to embark on and sustain a strike action for months. Similarly, ASUU went on a nine-month strike in 2020.