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Debunks allegations of resident doctors
From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, Dr Olatunde Alabi, has said that, contrary to recent media reports, the hospital remains fully operational, providing 24-hour service to the general public with all its facilities and manpower functioning without hindrance.
The resident doctors of the hospital had engaged in a protest, accusing the management of high-handedness and failure to recruit staff, claiming the hospital had become comatose.
At a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, the CMD explained the hospital’s progress under his leadership and stated that only a few disgruntled elements within the rank of resident doctors, who flagrantly refused to obey the rules and regulations of the hospital, were causing the crisis.
Alabi said that, contrary to claims that the hospital had only 42 doctors, it actually had a total of 282 doctors in service, including 86 consultants who are specialists in various fields.
Reeling out the breakdown of doctors in the hospital, Dr Alabi stated that there were 86 consultants, seven visiting doctors covering various fields, 49 resident doctors, 42 medical doctors, and 43 house officers. He stressed that the Association of Resident Doctors’ claim that the hospital had only 43 doctors was a calculated attempt to tarnish and smear the institution’s good image.
“I wonder where and how they come about such negative and unfair information. This is an embarrassment to the hospital.
“I don’t have any problem with any union in the hospital except those who are not willing to follow the rules and regulations of the civil service. This category of staff includes a small fragment of members of the Association of Resident Doctors who are not willing to be corrected.”
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Speaking on the claim that the management of the hospital had refused to employ doctors and other health workers since 2012 despite government waivers, the CMD explained that recruitments were conducted in 2013 and 2022 to fill various vacant positions.
“We were recruiting resident doctors regularly before the government policy on IPPIS came into effect. With that policy, there is nothing we can do, even when some resident doctors leave as a result of the ‘Japa’ syndrome, which has affected virtually all hospitals across the country.
“On the issue of allowances and arrears, I can say categorically that I am not owing any staff monthly salary. The allowances that are due to staff are our responsibility as management, and we do not delay such payments. Hazard allowances are paid by the federal government through IPPIS,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Controller of Labour in Kogi State, Mr Labija John, expressed dissatisfaction over the way the Association of Resident Doctors and the hospital management engaged in a media war instead of using dialogue to resolve their issues internally.
While warning that unions cannot fight their managements and succeed, the labour leader urged the management of the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja to ensure peace, unity, and a harmonious working relationship between staff and management.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Comrade Idris Abdul Miliki, charged both the management and the unions to prioritise dialogue in resolving conflicts rather than allowing disputes to escalate.
He stated that, having been admitted to the hospital, he could testify that it was one of the best in terms of service provision and facilities in the North Central zone. He urged the union and management to work together for the good of society.
