The Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) and the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA)along with its affiliates are not recognised labour unions.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, said the organisations are not identified labour unions in the general public service.

Speaking on Monday, Jan. 17, throughout the opening of the separate and joint conferences of the national civil service negotiating councils, which was participated in by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, and the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, Yemi-Esan included that the Federal Government was thinking about creating two extra councils in the education and health sectors.

Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan: “While you sit at plenary, I ask that to name a few essential matters to be talked about, you are told to note that Unions like the Nigeria Medical Association and the Academic Staff Union of Universities and their affiliates are not members of any acknowledged Labour Union in the Public Service and government is thinking about bringing the Health and Education Sectors to constitute 2 additional Councils, based on recommendations emerging from the meetings.

“Sustaining commercial harmony in any sector of a nation’s economy, consisting of the public sector, is primary and tactical to national advancement. This is since there can not be significant development in any nation where the grievances of employees, who are the drivers of advancement, are overlooked.

“In line with the principle and practice of cumulative bargaining, the government, particularly in recent times, has had to engage organised labour unions in constant discussion. Hence, it is pleasing to note that such effort has actually not been in vain, as we can value the obvious unified industrial atmosphere in the country.

“Of course, this would not have actually been possible without the understanding and support of the organised labour unions for the policies and programs of the government. Thus, our event here today is one of our unrelenting efforts towards guaranteeing the sustenance of this cordial relationship.

“As you know, the public service is the instrument of government for the formulation and application of policies, programs and jobs, leveraging on effective aggregation and release of material and human resources. This role, throughout the years, required reforms that redefined, restructured and rearranged the general public service to enable it react to the socio-economic and political characteristics of public administration.”

ToriNG