Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
Doctors under the umbrella of Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD-FCTA), yesterday protested against the alleged wrongful dismissal of 127 health workers by the FCT Administration.
The aggrieved Doctors under the employ of the FCT Administration had embarked on a three-day warning strike, as part of the decisions reached at the end of an emergency congress held on Monday, where all public hospitals were asked to commence the strike from at 8am on Tuesday, thereby grounding healthcare services in FCT.
ARD-FCTA in a communique released, said the industrial action had become necessary following the stoppage of their April salaries by the FCT Civil Service Commission.
The communique jointly signed by the President and General Secretary of the association, Dr. George Ebong and Dr Agbor Affiong respectively, described the government’s decision to remove the affected workers from the payroll without any prior notice, proper consultation, or due process as arbitrary and unjust.
According to the ARD, the workers comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and non-clinical staff, were wrongly labelled as ghost workers and absconders, despite still being actively involved in hospital operations.
They alleged that the FCT Hospital Management Board, the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and other relevant health authorities were not consulted prior to the action, which they say violated established administrative procedures.
“We observe with deep anger and utmost disappointment the arbitrary and unjust withholding of April salaries affecting 127 members of our association and other health workers, despite these staff undergoing the tedious verification process organized by the commission.
“This action was taken without any prior notice or due diligence, and this is completely unacceptable. We noticed how outrageously these workers were falsely tagged as having absconded and their names removed from payment platform by the Civil Service Commission, even though hospital services have continued uninterrupted”, the communique read in part.
It continued: “Over 100 dedicated staff have now been denied their rightful earnings – a disgraceful
decision that has caused untold emotional, physical, psychological, and financial hardship.”
Furthermore, the association equally condemned the poor communication from the FCT Hospital Management Board, with several hospital managing directors stating they were blindsided by the sackings. Three managing directors and other health management personnel have reportedly been directly impacted by the Commission’s decision.
According to the doctors: “What is equally disturbing is the complete exclusion of key stakeholders from this decision-making process by the Civil Service Commission.
“The Medical Directors of the affected hospitals, the Director General of the Hospital Management Board, the Permanent Secretary of Health, and even the Mandate Secretary were all sidelined. This lack of consultation reveals a clear breakdown in governance and accountability.
“Even more infuriating is the behavior of the Civil Service Commission. Their actions have gone beyond inefficiency – they have become a source of frustration and deliberate sabotage.
“The Chairman and staff of the Commission have shown blatant arrogance, rudeness, and disdain toward staff who approach them for legitimate inquiries.
“The utterances of the Civil Service Commission ranges from threatening words to mockery of health workers. They delay routine processes like post-Part 2 conversions, skipping, and promotions simply to assert irrelevant control and power. This kind of toxic and bureaucratic recklessness cannot be allowed to continue.”
“The ARD-FCTA is demanding the immediate reinstatement of the affected workers and their inclusion back on the payroll, the payment of their withheld April salaries without delay, a written apology from the Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Dr. Emeka Ezeh, acknowledging the distress caused by the wrongful dismissal, and the immediate resignation of Dr. Ezeh, who the doctors accuse of fostering administrative sabotage and toxic leadership.”
