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TUC urges FG to engage casual ministers, lawmakers

By Benjamin Alade
12 September 2017   |   1:29 am
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described the statement credited to the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to hire casual doctors as reckless, unguided and unexpected of a minister.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described the statement credited to the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to hire casual doctors as reckless, unguided and unexpected of a minister.
  
However, the minister had directed all chief medical directors and medical directors of federal hospitals to engage casual doctors to augment the services of consultants, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and medical doctors on internship pending the resolution of the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
   
Besides, the congress argued that if government must implement the minister’s recommendation then, it should also employ casual ministers, special aides and other government officials.

This, they said, would help the country to save enough money for projects and other critical infrastructure.In a statement jointly signed by the President, TUC, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, it said Nigeria has become a joke in the comity of nations because of statements of this nature that lack intellectual enterprise.     
   
The Congress noted that the country was going through enough pains already, and as such, trading lives for government’s complacency was most unreasonable, stating that Adewole should realise that the hospitals they patronise abroad were not manned by casual doctors.
  
“The best of Nigerian doctors are based abroad doing great. In fact, they treat our politicians who seek medical help abroad. And do you know what? They left this country because of some of the issues that led to the present strike.

“In other climes issues that bother on health are not treated with kid gloves, because lives are involved. But the reverse is the case here,” it said.  
The Congress lamented that at a time when other nations are building strong health sectors ‘the giant of Africa’ sees engagement of casual workers as the recipe for the challenge of the health sector.

“Asking consultants to work overtime while negotiations continue with the NARD is dangerous because we are talking about human life. Overtime? Are they factory workers? How do you persuade a medical doctor that is fagged out to perform a surgery?

“We are surprised that a university professor and medical doctor will recommend such. How the world of politics can make the human mind cruel. This was the same minister who played a positive role during the military regime. Amazingly awful! How time changes,” TUC said.  

The Congress called on the presidency to ignore Adewole’s quick fix solution and resolve the matter accordingly considering Nigerians’ need for proper medical attention.   
 

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