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Toying With Human Lives …Bickering, Rivalry In Health Sector
It is now almost clear that Nigerians may not have heard the last of strikes and counter-strikes in the country’s health sector. With deep-rooted inter-association quarrels, bad blood and avoidable rivalry holding sway, the patient may well be the ultimate loser, if the authorities continue to pander to one group against the other, rather than address issues.
That same rivalry in part, informed the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), to among other things, checkmate implementation of concessions granted other support workers within the hospital community.
Apart from the NMA, there is the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Healthcare Professionals Association (HPA), who, as support staff of the medical doctor now insist that being professionals, without whose vital services, the doctor cannot operate well, they require a better deal.
After series of negotiations, threats and even strikes, the Federal Government agreed to some of their demands. It was based on that government issued a circular mid this year, which among others, provides for the approval of consultancy positions for such support staff; abolition of deputy chairman, Medical Advisory Committee position and also the appointment of support staff as directors.
Other aspects of the agreement reached between government and JOHESU, upon which Federal Government issued the circular include, elimination of medical teachers from eligibility for headship of teaching hospitals and the approval for the headship of government hospitals by other qualified hospital professionals.
Among these support staff are Pharmacists, Laboratory Scientists, Radiologists, Midwives, Nurses, among others, some of who, by their training, spend equally long years in schools of study as do the doctors. These crop of professionals insist that the days, when, the medical doctor single-handedly owned the patient were over, in view of the ever-expanding scope of medical sciences.
But the doctors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) cannot accept such displacement of the status quo without a fight.
It was for that reason that MDCAN approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) to stop the implementation of the agreement government had earlier reached with officials of JOHESU. In the suit, number: NICN/ABJ/ 177/2014, MDCAN secured an interim injunction to restrain government from implementing the agreement.
Joined in that suit were the Federal Ministry of Labour and Attorney General of the Federation as defendants.
In granting the injunction, the presiding Judge, Justice M. N. Esowe, on June 27, 2014, restrained the defendants, ‘from implementing, executing, carrying out or giving effect to the decisions, resolutions and agreements that were reached at a meeting, which was held in the Federal Capital City, Abuja between the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Healthcare Professionals Association (HPA) on the one part and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Minister of Health; Chairman, Salaries, Income and Wages Commission; Head of Service of the Federation and other top government functionaries on the other part, on June 5, 2014.
The injunction further ordered that ‘no party shall proceed to do any act in furtherance of any agreement reached by the parties, which arguments form the kernel or subject matter of this motion before the court’. The court also barred MDCAN from embarking on any strike in protest against the said agreement, warning, ‘Nobody or party in the case shall embark on any strike until the motion on notice, which is already filed in this court, is heard and determined’.
The Judge then adjourned the case to July 10, 2014 for further hearing and determination.
It was within the same period that the NMA embarked on strike, to demand, as did MDCAN, rejection of the agreement reached with JOHESU, and an upward review of doctors’ Hazard allowance from N5,000 to N100,000, among others.
During the period, JOHESU seemed helpless because of the injunction and could do little but threatened that it would embark on strike if government reneged on its agreement with its body in favour of NMA. JOHESU has said no association had the monopoly of strike,s and urged the doctors to challenge government decision in court and not employ strike as a ready weapon to force compliance.
This is the crux of the matter. Where individuals and organizations are aggrieved over any action or impending actions, the proper thing to do is for such issues to be resolved by a court of competent jurisdiction..
For instance, there are in existence Acts that established Teaching Hospitals, and spell out functional organogram, among other details. Such Acts also specify the reach and limits of professionals.
In times of crisis like the type between doctors and support professionals, actions to be taken by government should be based on such laws, and where amendments are required, same be done. Any aggrieved party can then find no basis to challenge any contrary action outside the law.
For instance, if government reached agreement with JOHESU on a wide range of issues which inadvertently or intentionally breaches existing rights of NMA provided by law, the doctors’ body does not need a strike action to get relief. Strike should, indeed, be the last resort if dialogue, and legal action fail.
But while MDCAN went to the industrial court to challenge government’s decision, NMA did not, and instead embarked on nationwide strike at great loss to a nation then battling the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
In fact, it was towards the peak of the final battle against Ebola, that the doctors eventually called off their strike, assured that their demands would be met.
Expectedly, what is NMA’s gain will be JOHESU’s loss. And since the only weapon available is strike, health workers under the aegis of JOHESU have also embraced the effective option.
This means, public hospitals would operate without support staff if, the all-embracing strike is embarked upon. How can the medical doctor work alone? Who superintends diagnostics and other laboratory needs? Who handles x-rays and scans?
Of course, the consequences of the absence of these workers would indeed be grave on the hospital community. And as usual, force government to bend over backwards to meet the needs of the striking workers.
Last week, support staff called a warning strike which would become indefinite on the long run. Their demands are the same which the medical doctors would not want implemented.
So, should government please the doctors at the expense of the support staff, or please the support staff at the expense of the medical doctors? Since either choice means doom for the health sector, what is the way forward?
To avoid disastrous consequences on the health sector, still surviving an Ebola scare, all interest groups within the health sector should be joined in the MDCAN/JOHESU suit number: NICN/ABJ/177/2014 to help streamline all demands, rights and privileges, based on law.
All parties must place their demands on the table, debate them based on facts and law, and then let the court of competent jurisdiction decide on the matter.
Unless that is done, and early too, Nigerians shall continue to witness one form of industrial action or the other within the delicate health sector, at great risk to the patient.
My Agony is that each time these health unions embark on strike, like two elephants, it is the grass, the poor patient that suffers, while patients with means are diverted to their many private clinics, pharmacies and even science labs. Methinks, a law needs to be made to withhold salaries and allowances of workers who embark on strike without laid down legal procedures.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Sampson Parker And Onyebuchi Chukwu
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.