36 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019—37 08052202308 (sms only) Workers reject private sec<strong>to</strong>r takeover of public healthcare system •As MHW<strong>UN</strong> re-elects Biobelemoye President S<strong>to</strong>ries by Vic<strong>to</strong>r Young FEW days ago, members of Medical and Health Workers Union of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, MHW<strong>UN</strong>, through their delegates across the country, gathered in Abuja, the Federal Capital Terri<strong>to</strong>ry, for the 10th National Delegates' Conference, NDC, <strong>to</strong> take s<strong>to</strong>cks on the state of the union in the past four years. One of the high points of the conference was the re-election of Josiah Biobelemoye, as president of the union for the second term of four years. He was unanimously reelected by the members alongside 25 <strong>other</strong> national officers. Accepting the new challenge, Biobelemoye pledged <strong>to</strong> move the union <strong>to</strong> a greater height, and also <strong>to</strong> pursue only the needs and legitimate aspirations of members, while galvanizing all the resources and efforts <strong>to</strong> move the union <strong>to</strong> the next level. No <strong>to</strong> privatisation Earlier, addressing guests and delegates, Biobelemoya said: “The nose-diving healthcare delivery system has deteriorated <strong>to</strong> the extent that it is embarrassing <strong>to</strong> look with nostalgia how <strong>Nigeria</strong> was once the hub of healthcare where neighbouring countries once considered the Mecca for health pilgrimage. What obtains at the moment is massive health <strong>to</strong>urism of those who can afford better healthcare delivery outside the shores of this country. “This embarrassing state of the once celebrated health sec<strong>to</strong>r has been bedeviled by poor management that the country is witnessing high level of brain drain of personnel <strong>to</strong> <strong>other</strong> countries where the environment of operation is attractive. Many fac<strong>to</strong>rs have conspired <strong>to</strong> cast a very gloomy and dark cloud on the horizon in the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n health care delivery system, prominent among which is the attempt by government <strong>to</strong> lean <strong>to</strong>wards the policy of the capitalist west <strong>to</strong> privatise health institutions, especially Tertiary Health Institutions. “The privatisation train has made efforts <strong>to</strong> justify its implementation by insisting that privatisation, Public Private Partnership, PPP, and all its corollaries in commercialisation and concessioning as well as outsourcing, are necessary <strong>to</strong> curb incessant strikes in the health sec<strong>to</strong>r which they erroneously believe remains the *President of Medical and Health Workers Union of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, MHW<strong>UN</strong>, Josiah Biobelemoye, President of <strong>Nigeria</strong> Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, and an<strong>other</strong> member of the union at the conference bane of good health care delivery in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. If the business of government is <strong>to</strong> provide for security and the welfare and well being of its citizenry, then privatisation of the health industry as being saliently canvassed by the managers of the health systems in <strong>Nigeria</strong>, would not provide the answer.” Destruction of health system Biobelemoye advised President Muhammadu Buhari <strong>to</strong> look beyond medical doc<strong>to</strong>rs and appoint technocrats in health administration as Ministers of Health in his second tenure. According <strong>to</strong> him: “What has destroyed the health system in <strong>Nigeria</strong> is the government’s mistake of handing over the management of the health system <strong>to</strong> a powerful minority of the health team <strong>to</strong> the exclusion of the large majority of the team members. When a Minister of Health, Minister of State for Health and until recently, Permanent Secretary of Health and almost all departments are managed by one profession <strong>to</strong> the exclusion of <strong>other</strong> professionals in the health care delivery system, there can be no FG assures of decent work environment THE Federal Government has pledged continuous promotion of decent work environment in line with the provisions of the International Labour Organisation, ILO. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, William Alo, stated this in Abuja when he received the National Women Commission of the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Labour Congress, NLC, led by Mercy Okezie, on an advocacy visit <strong>to</strong> the Ministry on the adoption of the ILO Convention on harmony; turbulence and inefficiency shall continue <strong>to</strong> thrive. “As an immediate action <strong>to</strong> put confidence in<strong>to</strong> <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns, the appointment of Ministers of Health must not necessarily be <strong>to</strong> only health professionals <strong>to</strong> halt politics of exclusion that has taken tap roots in the ministry. We believe the appointment of non-health professionals as ministers, or the mixing of appointments of both doc<strong>to</strong>rs and <strong>other</strong> health professionals as ministers will boost the confidence of stakeholders that this present administration has come <strong>to</strong> terms with the problems of the sec<strong>to</strong>r and is determined <strong>to</strong> proffer solutions <strong>to</strong> them. “In the long run, we advise the revitalisation of the healthcare delivery system by returning the management of health institutions <strong>to</strong> hospital administra<strong>to</strong>rs who have not only been trained for such functions but also possess the professional attitude <strong>to</strong> manage these institutions without fear or favour of any professional group.” Widening inequality Declaring the conference open, President of <strong>Nigeria</strong> Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, faulted Federal Government's Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. He said <strong>Nigeria</strong> had always eschewed all forms of discrimination and negative attitudes in the work place, with adequate laws forestalling such practices, and had always keyed in<strong>to</strong> the ILO provisions. According <strong>to</strong> him: “<strong>Nigeria</strong> is ready, willing and determined <strong>to</strong> show more commitment <strong>to</strong> making the work environment conducive for every <strong>Nigeria</strong>n worker. If the work environment is conducive, plans <strong>to</strong> reduce the salaries of certain categories of public workers, insisting that it was the bogus pay package of the political class that should be reduced. He lamented that the “inequality gap between the rich and the poor in <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns is getting expanded. Whereas in <strong>other</strong> countries, it is the rich that subsidise for the poor but in our case, it is the poor that subsidise for the rich. Every month before we are paid, our salary is deducted and we pay the commensurate tax. What is central is for our system <strong>to</strong> bring about equity and fairness. “When I hear them say that they will review the salary of workers that are earning high, the right thing <strong>to</strong> do is <strong>to</strong> review the bogus salaries of politicians so that we can be at the same level. In <strong>other</strong> climes, the increase of salary <strong>to</strong> all classes of workers in the society is done based on certain indices, either inflation or cost of living index. If you are increasing the salary of political office holders, you must also look at the same percentage for the salary of workers. We generate the wealth of our nation and must be partakers of the wealth we create.” friendly, accommodating and protective, it brings peace, love and understanding. So, the advocacy is timely because we need <strong>to</strong> do more.” He pledged the commitment of government <strong>to</strong> supporting the ILO Convention on S<strong>to</strong>pping Gender-based Violence and Harassment of Women and Men in the World of Work, emphasizing the relationship between an enabling work environment, productivity, and economic growth. NUPENG confirms Afolabi Gen-Sec, names 3 dep scribes NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has confirmed Olawale Afolabi as its substantive General Secretary with immediate effect, having acted for three months. This came as it equally elevated three of its Principal General Secretaries <strong>to</strong> Deputy General Secretaries effective April 1, 2019. They are Otite Precious Onohwohwo, Deputy General Secretary (Operations), Anthony Chukwu, Deputy General Secretary (Finance/Accounts) and Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Akpede, Deputy General Secretary (Administration). A statement by the union's President, Williams Akporeha, said Afolabi confirmation and promotions of Onohwohwo, Chukwu and Akpede, were done by the National Administrative Council, NAC, of the Union. According <strong>to</strong> the statement, "Afolabi is a seasoned unionist and technocrat who has been in active service for over two decades in NUPENG, in the areas of management, training/education, alternative dispute resolution, and negotiations. He is very replete with the creation, development and launch of existing viable operations with robust, deep and ingenious ideas. "His skills in Industrial Relations, general management and organizational development were acquired and nurtured over the years in various roles since he pitched tent with NUPENG, where he spent bulk of his career. Before this latest miles<strong>to</strong>ne in the Union, Afolabi was diligent in handling the Education and Training of the rank and file of the Union and was a founding member of <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Labour Movement Educa<strong>to</strong>rs Forum. Also <strong>to</strong> his credit, many Union leaders and branch officials cut their trade union teeth through his numerous training and workshops." The statement added that "there is no doubt absolutely that these men will bring their wealth of experiences and knowledge <strong>to</strong> bear in these new tasks." *Olawale Afolabi, now NUPENG' s substantive General Secretary.
- Page 1 and 2: OLU FASAN STATE OF THE NATION Atiku
- Page 3 and 4: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 5 and 6: vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguar
- Page 7 and 8: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 9 and 10: VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 11 and 12: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 13 and 14: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 15 and 16: HONOUR: Enugu State Governor and Go
- Page 17 and 18: After the elections: The next level
- Page 19 and 20: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4 , 2019
- Page 21 and 22: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 23 and 24: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 25 and 26: C M Y K Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4
- Page 27 and 28: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 29 and 30: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 31 and 32: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 33 and 34: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 35 and 36: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 37 and 38: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 39 and 40: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 41 and 42: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 43 and 44: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 45 and 46: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 47 and 48: EMINENT statesmen from the North an
- Page 49 and 50: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 51: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 55 and 56: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 57 and 58: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 59 and 60: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 61 and 62: Vanguard, THURSDAY APRIL 4, 2019
- Page 63 and 64: Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019