The Federal Government has said Nigeria’s health sector has remained largely stable over the past two and a half years, insisting that there have been no major disruptions to healthcare delivery despite periodic industrial actions and growing concerns about the migration of medical professionals.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, made the assertion on Sunday while speaking on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television.
He attributed the relative calm in the sector to deliberate planning, sustained dialogue and targeted investments by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the minister, the period under review has been marked by what he described as “relative harmony” between the government and health workers, noting that widespread shutdowns of hospitals and health services have largely been avoided.
Pate acknowledged that the only significant disruption during the period involved resident doctors, whom he described as trainee physicians, rather than senior consultants or the broader medical associations.
He explained that their industrial action was driven by longstanding issues that predated the current administration.
He said the Federal Government has been taking gradual but deliberate steps to address welfare concerns among doctors and other health professionals, including efforts to improve conditions of service across different cadres in the sector.
He however, cautioned that reforms in such a complex system could not be implemented hastily.
“You don’t make these changes overnight,” the minister said, stressing the need for patience and sustained engagement to achieve a well-structured and adequately funded health system.
Pate also emphasised the importance of dialogue, noting that while the government remains committed to improving the welfare of health workers, not all demands can be met immediately.
He said negotiations and compromise are necessary to balance workers’ expectations with available resources.
His comments come against the backdrop of recent industrial action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike on November 1.
The doctors had protested issues including poor remuneration, unpaid salary arrears, inadequate working conditions, staff shortages and insufficient medical infrastructure.
The strike was suspended on November 30 after negotiations with the Federal Government culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, confirmed the suspension in a public statement, saying the association’s National Executive Council had agreed to call off the action following assurances from the authorities.
The Federal Government has maintained that ongoing engagement with health sector unions remains a key strategy in showing stability, improving service delivery and preventing prolonged disruptions in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
