Resident Doctors Protest, Seek Investigation Of Management Of Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja 

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL) chapter, has once again called on President Bola Tinubu and the minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, to launch an investigation into the decay of facilities and the inhuman treatment going on at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Lokoja, before the hospital’s total collapse.

Members of the association also  demanded for  the immediate reinstatement of their  president, Dr. Jimoh Umar who was suspended last year for the association’s activities.

Speaking during another  peaceful protest  at the premises of the hospital in Lokoja on Friday, Dr Olushola Baoku, the immediate past chairman of the association revealed that the  hospital before now had  315 doctors, lamenting that  today the hospital can only boast of only  43 doctors because of poor working conditions.

Speaking further, Dr Baoku stressed that many of the doctors in the employment of the hospital are on a devilish contract where the doctors have to renew their contract every two months with the management, describing the situation as ridiculous in a country that is spending much in the health sector.

“This category of doctors have no pension, no promotion, no hazard allowance, no minimum wage award and they work on a harsh environment where facilities in the hospital are not functioning.

“We are aware that the federal government through the ministry of health has directed the management of the hospital to use the Internal Generated Revenue of the hospital to clear all outstanding arrears , we are shocked to hear that  up till  now this hospital is owing humongous amount due for the workers of the hospital.

“Some of our doctors in this hospital in the last five years have been renewing their contract instead of the management to engage them fully. Since 2012, this hospital has not employed  a single doctor and other health workers the hospital is passing through an acute shortage of manpower in all units and sections of the hospital.

“In the last one week this is the third protest Resident Doctors in Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja  are staging. We have chosen to remain in this country to serve our father’s land but some people who believe they are above the law are making things worst and difficult for us and the hospital.

“This hospital has been turned to a slave camp by Olatunde Alabi led administration. The hospital is nothing but doctors slave camp.

“We have written 14 petitions to the minister of health Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate , to the SGF Senator George Akume , to the Head of Service of the federation and very recently to the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health , to NMA leaders complaining the decay in this hospital and up till now nothing has been done.

“Perhaps the authority concern  have decided to allow this hospital to collapse because of the inaction of the few people that managed the hospital.

“It was on record that an attendant who worked in the hospital was sick and brought to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital. There was no light everywhere dark, and that was how the woman died of a sickness that could be treated, supposing there was light. She worked in the hospital for over 20 years but died of an avoidable death.

“The other time, doctors and other health workers were beaten seriously by someone who brought a sick relation to the hospital because nothing could be done to save life due to lack of functional equipment.

“The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital can not keep a patient for three hours because of lack of facilities and as a result of that the president  of our association stood up to demand for a face lift in the hospital but the management started the persecution, suspension and now fake termination of Dr Jimoh Umar,” he said.

Dr Baoku, who alleged that the hospital’s chief medical director, Dr. Olatunde Alabi, has been foot-dragging in restoring Dr. Jimoh Umar, the association’s president, said the minister of health, through the permanent secretary, had directed that Dr Umar be reinstated immediately.

“The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate through the Permanent Secretary, Ms Kachollom Shangti Daju, has approved the reinstatement of Dr Jimoh Umar since December 12, 2024.

“The letter got to the FTHL on January 11, 2025, but the CMD, Dr Olatunde Alabi, has deliberately refused to effect the content of the letter as directed by the Minister. All we are saying as doctors is that the CMD should obey the superior order according to the Section 3 of Civil Service Rule.

“It says refusal to treat official file, violation of auto secrecy, act unbecoming of a public officer and insubordination, are all acts of misconduct. All these are contained in the public service rule, and all of us are under the public service rules, including the CMD,” he stated.