Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called for the immediate cessation of hostilities by Boko Haram in the interest of the nation’s educational and health sectors.

According to Uduaghan, the activities of Boko Haram members have not only affected the growth of education especially with the abduction of more than 200 students of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, but have also made some parts of the country unreachable for immunisation and other healthcare activities.

The governor was speaking yesterday in Asaba when he played host to the Chairman and members of the National Council on Establishments Committee on the Review of Issues affecting the Health Sector in the country. He appealed to members of Boko Haram to release the Chibok girls and cease hostilities in the interest of the growth of the nation.

Uduaghan noted that Nigeria is still grouped among countries with polio, stressing that with the activities of Boko Haram, eradicating Polio in the country remains a tall dream.

“I want to assure you that Nigeria will soon overcome its security challenges,” Governor Uduaghan said, adding: “Kidnap of the Chibok girls is not only affecting the education sector but, also, the health sector because it is affecting the health workers going round on their routine duties.”

Dr. Uduaghan continued: “Nigeria ranks among the few countries with polio; this crisis is affecting the eradication of polio and other communicable diseases, the crisis does not help anybody. I want to plead with sponsors and members of Boko Haram to stop hostilities and release the Chibok girls.”

The governor commended the National Council on Establishment for setting up the committee, observing that industrial disharmony will be greatly reduced when States are involved in negotiations between government and organised labour.

“If things are properly done and the right decisions reached, there will be no strikes in the country,” the governor said, and urged the various professionals in the health sector to unite and form a common front on issues to move the sector forward.

He described industrial actions in the health sector as having adverse effects on people’s lives, lamenting: “Every minute that there is strike in the health sector, a life is lost and such life cannot be brought back.”

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee and Head of Delta State Civil Service, Sir Paul Evuarherhe, said the committee was set up at the 38^th meeting of the National Council on Establishments to take a holistic view of the various issues affecting the professionals in the health sector.

He disclosed that members of the committee who were drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country were in Asaba for a meeting to deliberate on the issues and come up with recommendations.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan.

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