By Stanley Onyekwere
As part of strategic measures to strengthen medical services across all healthcare facilities in Abuja, The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has promised to treat medical doctors under the Administration with human face.
Making this assertion during a meeting with Medical Unions in his office at the weekend, Wike, who was represented by the Minister of state for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, noted that while the recent circular of the eight years tenure retirement was an issue of concern, but the Administration would carefully study the matter.
In a press release signed by Assistant Director, Information,
Office of Hon. Minister of state for FCT, Freda Aideyan, said the Minister however, added that the eight years didn’t only affect the Medical sector but some other sectors.
“We have a guideline that exempted the medical doctors from the circular, so we need to have a backup document to speak on the matter.
“I will have to meet with the heads of departments, stakeholders and other sectors concerning recalling the letter, and I assure you that we will do our best and come out with something good,” he stressed.
On his part, Chairman of FCT chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Ugwuanyi Charles, the union pleads with the Honorable Minister to look into the letter.
“The removal of some of the Hospital consultants will affect the once available and cause a great burn out in our hospital”
Similarly, the Chairman, Medical and Dental Council Association of Nigeria (MD-CAN) FCTA chapter, Dr. Musa Emmanuel said the rules was not followed accordingly and the retirement was done by people who do not know the rules or choose to ignore them.
According to him, “The FCTA, Medical Health Care services are accessible and affordable to everyone, but the retirement will affect the sector greatly, the letter is worrisome.”
Not left out, the president of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FCTA, Dr. Rahmon Olayinka Sodiq, opined that people from Nasarawa, Kogi and others throng FCT to access healthcare from medical care centres in the city.
This trend, he said was “because they believe in the FCT medical care, but who are those consultants that will be present?. We, hope that the letter will be reverted.”
