Understanding LUTH’s Unending Labour Issues

OF recent, allegations of labour crisis and intimidation of workers by the authorities of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) branch of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Lagos branch of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) were rife. Some of the workers even called for the sacking of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Chris Bode.

However, a visit last week showed categories of workers at their duty posts and there seemed to be calm. Chairman of the Lagos NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo, had alleged “intimidation of workers, non-payment of arrears” by the new CMD as one of the reasons for the recent dispute. He cited the case of a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, identified as Dr. K.S. Okunade whom he said was maltreated and called for the CMD’s retirement, saying he was past the mandatory age of retirement.

But an aide to the CMD, Olaolu Boyode, dismissed the allegations.
“Okunade did his residency here,” Boyode said. “As a resident doctor, he was living in the resident doctors’ quarters and at the expiration of his training over a year ago, he was requested to move out of the quarters by the housing department. This has nothing to do with the CMD who was even out of the country during the period. All these are just tissues of lies. Okunade was one of the few consultants employed recently. CMD cannot possible hate Dr Okunade who is over 20 years his junior. Do you employ your enemy? There is much more to the story Okunade is telling the public”

On the call for Bode’s resignation, a senior staff of the Federal Ministry of Health, Haruna Falade, said the ARD and the NMA are wasting their time.
“CMDs are appointed by the Presidency on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. The Ministry is aware that some unionists are working to frustrate the CMD’s reforms, but I can assure you that the Ministry will not fall for their propaganda,’’ the official said.

A Senior Lecturer and Consultant to LUTH, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that there are actually a few disgruntled unionists in LUTH who, because Professor Bode has introduced many new reforms and policies which make it almost impossible for hospital workers to continue to enjoy salaries and other allowances without working for it.

Said the consultant: “there is no crisis in LUTH in the real sense of the word. What is really happening is that some hospital workers don’t always go to work, and they delegate duties to their junior colleagues and trainees while they run their private affairs and God knows what else outside the campus. Now the new CMD is saying, ‘if you don’t work you don’t get paid’. Of course, that didn’t go well with them.

“Then secondly, members of ARD are supposed to be on training, but they also do private practice outside and they love to go on strike at every little opportunity. Everyone knows the new CMD has zero tolerance for strikes and sharp practices that have given medical practice a bad name. He believed that too many patients have lost their lives during strikes because we don’t seem to care. He has said the same thing to every union, not only the doctors’ associations. So, the new policy is, if you go on strike, you will not get paid for the period that you are strike.”

Sources at LUTH claim those affected by these policies are the ones that are using the unionists and the media against the CMD and the hospital management.
“I can assure you that most medical doctors who are not into sharp practices and other categories of staff in LUTH, like nurses, pharmacists, administrative staff and other categories are happy with the CMD, the trouble- makers are just trying to create imaginary crisis because of their selfish interest,” Idris Alamutu, an administrative staff said.

Akinola Bello, another administrative staff of the institution, revealed that during the CMD’s short tenure, the hospital has not only witnessed massive improvements, but the CMD gave all categories of staff a sense of belonging. “He cares for all and is passionate about turning this hospital around for the better,” says Bello.
“Before now, CMDs, most of whom are doctors, only took care of their colleagues. But Prof. Bode has given everybody a sense of belonging. He even has the courage to tell his colleagues, his own constituency, that if they don’t work, they won’t get paid. All other groups have taken a cue from this and will not go on strike anytime soon. We know that most CMDs are scared of moving against these groups because once you do, they either call for your removal or embark on strike.’’

Another staff of the Institution also claimed that LUTH has recently witnessed quite some growth. These include the establishment and construction of the Surgical Skills Training Centre, wherein training of surgical procedures, medical procedures and other trainings are routinely done.

“The center is a world class center where people from all over the world hold training programmes,” a staff of the centre, Bola Oseni said. “LUTH is now a leading centre for international and regional collaborations in various training programmes that attract eminent specialists who come to Nigeria to transfer their skills to our own trainers and trainees in Dentistry, laparoscopy, endoscopy, paediatric surgery and many other disciplines. Sadly, many resident doctors do not participate in these laudable programmes because they are perpetually on strike. Many nurses and administrative staff confirmed that sponsorship of workers for various courses has received a great boost under Bode. This has created a sense of pride to work for LUTH among workers.”

She also listed the rehabilitation of the long abandoned suites 1-3 at the Modular theatre, with uninterrupted inverter-powered operation room lights in the K Block and the Modular theatre. Nurses’ corridor, nurses’ seminar room and offices have been upgraded to give a sense of belonging in a pleasant hospital environment. LUTH has now embarked on an ambitious digitization process in line with global best practices to make the Hospital user- friendly for workers and patients.

For Bello, the biggest work done by the new CMD is the construction of the LUTH captive gas-powered generation plant of 3.48 MW, which will provide uninterrupted power supply to LUTH and its surrounding communities.
“The CMD visited the site everyday and has left no stone unturned to ensure the project was speedily completed,” he said.

Prof Bode is also credited with the restructuring and rehabilitation of the IVF center to international standard, the rehabilitation and renovation of clinical facilities, offices, wards, and an ongoing beautification of the hospital environment.

Said Bello: “The truth is, we have never had things this good in recent times. Some leaders always try to test the will of a new head of the hospital and once somebody tries to check their excesses, they either threaten to go on strike or call for the person’s removal. They seem to have met their match in this new CMD as his track record shows he has always been a no-nonsense leader. Even his opponents agree Bode is a man of his words: if he promises you something, he does what he says he will do’’.