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NARD vs FG: Adeleke urges dialogue between parties
Sen. Adeleke Mamora, the immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, has called for a reasonable dialogue between the Federal Government and the striking doctors belonging to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
Mamora, also a former Minister of State for Health, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA-FCT).
He enjoined all parties in the dispute to embrace dialogue as a way of resolving the impasse.
“For me, I will never succumb to pressure for something I know will not be possible, what is happening now is a situation of carryover.
“We must look at a holistic approach to the issues, so I appeal to our colleagues to dialogue,” he stressed.
Also, Sen. Tony Nwoye, Anambra North Senatorial District (Labour Party), stated that there was the need to protect the image of the medical profession.
Nwoye who said that the medical profession was more like a sacrifice, noted that medical doctors put a lot of hours to work and that they need to get their reward on earth and not in heaven.
According to him, “it is a terrible thing that most Nigerian doctors are now migrating as a result of the situation of their work in Nigeria, and poor working environment.”
He said few days ago, he wanted to access a medical facility in his home state, and that every hospital he visited in Anambra state, none has a functional “Electrocardiogram” (EGC).
He said that such a situations in Nigerian hospitals are not the same with that of the ones abroad, stressing that this called for a concern from Nigeria’s leaders.
Nwoye, however, pledged to see a different situation with the coming in of the 10th National Assembly, adding that there was the need to find a lasting solution to the tussle between the NARD, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Federal Government.
Photograph of members of the audience
Former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on health services, Yusuf-Tanko Sununu, urged doctors to also involve themselves in politics.
According to him, a doctor without political awareness, or without any role in politics is doomed.
He said that doctors are critical to political decisions, and that medical politics was important in this present situation of the country, saying that everybody must be involved.
Sununu called on doctors to be emphathetic with their work, stressing that they must put themselves in the condition of the patients they are taking care of.
“A doctor must have the ability to listen attentively, have wisdom to interprete things the way they are, and must have the knowledge of patients and drugs.
“A doctor must have a good communication skills for him to be able to play a role in politics, whenever we refuse to participate in politics it will affect us, we have a role to play in politics,” he stressed.
Dr Ibrahim Wada, the Chairman of the occasion and founder of Nisa Medical Group, Abuja, urged all doctors who are willing to Japa (migrate) to other countries to think twice before they go.
He, however, assured doctors that the health sector would be better if government gives serious attention to the sector.
Earlier, Dr Charles Ugwuanyi, Chairman, NMA-FCT, noted that government had in many ways contributed to the emigration of health workers, but called for a change in the situation.
He expressed the hope that after the AGM, with the contribution of various speakers, the Federal Government would see reasons to accede to the demands of the doctors to quickly end the ongoing strike.
He said with the response of the Federal Government, public confidence would be restored in government hospitals and reduce the human capital flight out of a struggling health space.
“The truth is, doctors and all health care professionals deserve a lot more than what they are asking for, should the government decide to get it right this time,” he said.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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