…One month notice not adequate for 15-yr lease- NBA
By Hassan Zaggi
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned in strong terms what it described as the abrupt termination of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between the NISA medical groups and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration.
Reading a communique at the end of the 2nd Ordinary General Meeting of NMA, FCT chapter in Abuja, Friday, the Chairman, Dr Enema Job Amodu, said that his group totally reject the position of the FCT Administration.
While saying that the NMA is watching keenly as “this very unpleasant and unfortunate situation unfolds,” Dr. Amodu said that the position of the FCT administration will lead to a sudden loss of jobs of close to 1000 workers which include medical doctors, nurses and other workers that have over time contributed to the enviable and successful standard of health care provided by Garki Hospita.
“The NMA FCT also note that this insensitive, unjust action will terminate the post graduate medical training as well as internship programmes of doctors, pharmacists and nurses presently running in the institution.
“These programmes require definitive period for proper completion and exit. These accredited programmes supervised by members of the highly exalted post graduate colleges of National, West African and other similar international bodies have been largely responsible for the high standard, ethical practice of the Garki Hospital , Abuja over the last 15 years of concession.
“The NMA FCT Is watching keenly as this very unpleasant and unfortunate situation unfolds.
“It is our sincere hope that the medical personnel (doctors, nurses, etc) as well as other non-clinical staff are given the opportunities to complete their trainings without interruptions, and also allowed to retain their jobs and offer their services under the new proposed authority.
“This is because, they are all collectively are responsible for the present success story of Garki hospital, Abuja; and as such NO MAN SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.
“The NMA FCT therefore proposes that the FCTA extends the period of disengagement of NISA group from Garki hospital Abuja to allow a more effective, smooth and humane transition,” the NMA Chairman said.
The NMA FCT applauded the Federal Government for making COVID-19 available, but however, noted with deep concern the less attention being paid to other infectious diseases such as Lassa fever, Cholera and even Malaria that affect more of the lower class of the society.
The group also called on the federal government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) to find urgent and lasting solution to the persistent, perennial fuel shortage.
This situation, the NMA said, has severely affected the practice and practise of medicine, stressing that: “Health workers, are now finding it increasingly difficult to get to their places of work, to discharge their duties, not to mention the adverse effects on the health sector.”
The NMA further advised that following the frequent and sudden deaths of health workers in the FCT, “all health workers working in both federal and FCTA health facilities within the federal capital territory should be subjected to compulsory free annual basic medical checkupsas part of their New year programme. This will go a long way to picking up serious ailments early to prevent untimely deaths.”
Responding to a question on what is the position of the law on the abrupt notice given to NISA group to vacate the Garki hospital, the Chairman, NBA Abuja branch, Moses Alfred Abute (SAN), said that there is nowhere in the world one month notice should be adequate for a 15-year lease.
According to him: “What concerns us is the abrupt termination. By law, even if it has terminated, I don’t think one month notice is good for a facility of that nature and if it is also part of the agreement, looking at the facility, we think that using self-help will not be advisable because what happens if at the end of one month they are unable to evacuate, are you going to deploy security men to sent away everybody including those on admission? That is what concerns us here.
“If it is abrupt, then there is something wrong with it. Even if it is not abrupt, I don’t think one month notice is reasonable in such circumstance.
“But we plead and advice that in case they are unable to evacuate within one month, the FCT should not behave like Putin of Russia by invading the facility. That is our concern. They should not resort to self-help because it is not allowed in law.
