The Minister of State for Health, Isaq Salako, has warned that hospitals in Nigeria could be affected if the petroleum workers’ union (NUPENG) goes on a nationwide strike.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ program on Monday, Salako explained that most hospitals rely heavily on diesel and petrol to run their generators.
He said, “If NUPENG goes on strike, it will clearly affect the health sector because, right now, hospitals depend on diesel and petrol for 65 to 80 percent of their power supply. A strike would create serious problems for healthcare, and nobody wants that.”
Salako urged both sides in the dispute to be calm and think about the public’s well-being.
He said, “I want to appeal to both sides to be reasonable. The common people should be the focus. A NUPENG strike would disrupt many things—business and daily life. We want to avoid that.”
He added, “There needs to be a balance. Dangote is helping the economy by increasing local production. Workers have the right to form unions, but that right should be exercised carefully.”
