Job Racketeering C’ttee; African countries enjoying services of M/Doctors-Prof Bassey

By Tom Okpe

Chairman, Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, Prof Emem Bassey, has said other African countries are now poaching Nigerian medical doctors and other health professionals.

Bassey, who is also the Chief Medical Director, (CMD) University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, said the health sector is currently undergoing a major crisis in terms of manpower as health professionals are leaving in droves.

He also said doctors often went on strike because the government often failed, to meet unrealizable promises.

Bassey, speaking before the House of Representatives Ad’hoc Committee, probing Employment Racketeering in Federal Government agencies alongside, Heads of other Health Institutions in the country said: “Some African countries are beginning to poach from Nigeria. The west coast is looking for our specialists.

“So, most of our best hands are going to places like Sierra Leone and Gambia because the wages they earn, between 3000 to 4000 Dollars is four times, better than what is applicable here.

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“So, we are beginning to see that people are leaving to other African countries and other parts of the world.

“The health sector is currently undergoing a major crisis in terms of manpower. What we are seeing is that, medical specialists, not just doctors, even nurses, in fact even more nurses are even leaving.

“Doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers and all manner of health professionals are leaving the country in droves with the younger ones going to African countries and the older ones going to Saudi-Arabia and the United Kingdom.

“That is part of the problem we are facing. Replacement of these health workers is a major problem. This is because, though we are usually granted approvals to recruit, getting waivers is a tortuous process.”

He said due to the urgency of need to replace various health professionals who leave, it is difficult to comply with federal character in recruitments.

On incessant strike actions embarked upon by medical doctors, he said, “Strike should be the very last option, but one of the things we have seen has been the fact that we see threats and threats, upon threats. And instead of, I would say, governments in the past sitting down to negotiate resolutions that are feasible, just because you want to end a strike, you have agreements that you cannot implement.

“And after a certain period, six months or one year later and you have not implemented it, another strike again. So, we need to sit down together,” he stressed.

Chairman of the committee, Rep Yusuf Gagdi, urged the doctors to be patriotic by staying back to contribute to the development of the country, even if they have better options abroad.

He said the committee would work towards addressing the need to balance compliance to the spirit of Federal Character and filling up urgent vacancies in the health sector.

“I admit there is lack of advanced medical facilities in our health sector. This is a fact and we must, as a government pay attention to that.

“Where we are confused is the aspect of patriotism. You are produced by Nigerian institutions. We admit the brain drain and are trying to find solutions. We are happy to see you here. A lot of you have the connections, maybe, based on the value of your intellect to be in the developed countries and provide services to them.

“But most of you find fashion in adding value to your motherland.

“What are you telling your co-professionals about patriotism, giving back to the society that gave you the knowledge?

“We challenge you to throw to your own profession the issue of morality. You cannot disown your father no matter how poor he is for taking you this far to go and adopt somebody’s father.

“Nigeria is our country. Nigeria produced us as medical doctors, no matter the rot within our public sector in terms of remuneration. Let us work together and see how we can find solutions to that. But let us remain in Nigeria to serve our own country.

“We would review your submissions entirely. These institutions that have pending recruitment cases, we would interface with them uniquely.

“We would look into your issue. You have a very good defence for now having a balanced sheet in terms of federal character.

“Nigerians have listened to you. So, whatever this committee at the end of the day recommends to the government is going to be done and it is for our own good entirely,” Gagdi added.

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