A reconciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Health to resolve the industrial dispute at the Federal University of Technology, Akure Teaching Hospital, FUTATH, was postponed on Friday after labour leaders failed to attend.
The meeting, led by officials of the ministry, was expected to address grievances that have triggered repeated industrial actions at the hospital.
According to the ministry, the unions requested a postponement in a letter dated July 23, citing unavoidable engagements and asking that the meeting be rescheduled.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chief Medical Director of FUTATH, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, attributed the dispute to the implementation of approved administrative reforms following the hospital’s transition from the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital to a federal institution.
He said the reforms, though necessary for the hospital’s development, had generated disagreements with some labour union leaders.
Ojo maintained that management had consistently engaged the unions through dialogue but expressed concern over repeated disruptions to clinical services before dispute resolution processes were exhausted.
He appealed for industrial harmony, reaffirming management’s commitment to dialogue, due process and an open-door policy to ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery, teaching and research.
FG to establish Brain Health Desk, develop national agenda
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a Brain Health Desk under the National Mental Health Programme and develop Nigeria’s first National Brain Health Agenda to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care of neurological disorders.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, disclosed this at the commemoration of World Brain Day 2026 in Abuja.
She said the initiative would strengthen national coordination on brain health through policy development, research, advocacy, capacity building, surveillance and improved service delivery in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Kachollom noted that neurological disorders, including stroke, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injuries, pose a growing public health challenge in Nigeria and globally.
She said the proposed National Brain Health Agenda would provide a framework for expanding access to neurological services, strengthening the health workforce, promoting research and aligning with the World Health Organisation’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders.
The permanent secretary also announced that World Brain Day would be included in the ministry’s annual health commemorations to sustain public awareness and advocacy on brain health.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare services and called on stakeholders to work together to reduce stigma, promote early diagnosis and improve access to rehabilitation, essential medicines and assistive technologies for people living with neurological disorders.
