Posted on: Fri 07-11-2025

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government and the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) against neglecting doctors’ welfare or intimidating members participating in the ongoing nationwide strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

 

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Thursday, the Chairman of NMA Lagos, Dr. Saheed Babajide, said any attempt by government authorities or hospital management to threaten or harass striking doctors would be met with decisive resistance.

 

“The NMA Lagos State Branch fully supports the legitimate industrial action declared by NARD following the expiration of its thirty-day ultimatum to the Federal Government,” Babajide declared. “Any act of intimidation or harassment of our members will not be tolerated. We will not hesitate to publish the names of those involved.”

 

He described the Federal Government’s failure to meet NARD’s nineteen-point demands and the Health Minister’s refusal to engage the association within the ultimatum period as “a clear act of negligence.”

 

Babajide urged the Federal Government to immediately meet NARD’s demands to avert a total collapse of tertiary healthcare and restore public confidence in the country’s health system.

 

The NMA chairman also condemned what he termed “an unacceptable and unconscionable decision” by LUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, to stop providing free call duty meals for doctors.

 

According to him, during a courtesy visit to the CMD’s office in February, the hospital management had proposed replacing free meals with a canteen offering subsidised food. However, the NMA Lagos Congress rejected the plan, insisting that call duty meals are a statutory welfare entitlement, not a privilege.

 

“It is shocking that a federal tertiary hospital that charges patients fees comparable to or even higher than some private hospitals would claim it lacks funds to feed doctors who stay overnight saving lives,” Babajide stated. “Such conduct is a dereliction of leadership and a betrayal of professional ethics.”

 

He directed that the LUTH management immediately comply with the directive to resume free call duty meals for doctors, warning that anything less would be unacceptable.

 

The association also demanded the urgent reconstitution of Boards of Management for federal tertiary hospitals, which have remained dissolved for over two years. Babajide noted that the absence of these boards had led to unchecked administrative excesses and abuse of power by some Chief Executives.

 

He further called for the adoption of a single, non-renewable five-year tenure for all hospital Chief Executives, arguing that the current system of indefinite extensions fosters abuse of office, stagnation, and victimisation of staff.

 

“A single five-year tenure will promote accountability, fairness, innovation, and transparency in hospital governance,” Babajide said. “It will prevent the personalisation of leadership positions and encourage performance-driven management.”

 

The NMA Lagos also directed all affiliate bodies under its branch to remain vigilant and ready for unified action should the Federal Government, the Ministry of Health, or LUTH management fail to address these welfare concerns.

 

Babajide warned that doctors on call duty in LUTH are free to obtain meals wherever they deem fit if management fails to provide them, and that any attempt to obstruct them will attract immediate disciplinary action and blacklisting by the association.

 

He held the LUTH CMD responsible for any adverse incidents that may occur while doctors are forced to leave their duty posts in search of meals during call hours.

 

Concluding his remarks, Babajide reaffirmed NMA Lagos’ commitment to defending the rights and professional dignity of Nigerian doctors.

 

“The health of our citizens and the survival of our profession depend on leadership that values people over personal gain,” he said.

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