The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has advocated the need to sustain industrial harmony in public service, saying it was strategic, cardinal to national economy.
Yemi-Esan made the call at the opening of the 2020/2021 Meetings of the Separate and Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council on Monday, in Abuja.
The forum provides opportunities for the convergence of public servants across different professions through their trade unions.
It is aimed at discussing issues relating to general wellbeing with the intention of addressing whatever challenges might affect the productivity of workers.
She said that operating in such a manner would be meaningful, even as the government was expected to address the grievances of its workers for the needed sustainable working environment.
“Sustaining industrial harmony in any sector of the country’s economy including the public sector is strategic and cardinal to national economy.
“This is because there cannot be any meaningful development in any country where the grievances of workers who are the drivers of development is ignored,’’ she said.
According to her, in line with the principles of practice of collective bargaining, government particularly in recent times has had to engage organised labour unions in constant dialogues.
She, however, noted that such efforts had not been in vain in the quest for the Federal Government to reposition and restructure the nation’s public service.
“This would not have been possible without the understanding and the support of the organised labour unions,’’ she noted.
The Chairman National Public Service Negotiating Council, Mr Benjamin Anthony, in his remark lauded the Federal Government in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 successfully.
Anthony appealed to government to look into the plights of health workers in particular, who risked their lives during the period to ensure that Nigeria did not record many casualties as was expected.
“We saw what the country passed through during that time especially the health workers, some died as a result, we believe that these workers should be compensated enough,’’ he said.
He also appealed to government to look into the workers’ welfare as most important to meet the present economy realities.
The Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, who declared the event open, said the meeting had provided the opportunity for union members and the government to provide solutions to issues affecting public service.
Represented by the Minister of State for FCT, Mrs Ramatu Aliyu, Bello expressed optimism that the forum would yield positive result at its end.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum attracted different labour unions across the country and it has “Labour/Government Relations in the Post COVID-19 Era”, as its theme.(NAN)
