The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has expressed displeasure over the continuous appointment of medical practitioners as minister of health.

This is also as the group kicked against the appointment of same medical practitioners as Chief Medical Directors of hospitals.

This formed part of a communique issued by the NUAHP after its quadrennial national conference, held in Keffi, Nassarawa State.

The Communique was signed by the National President of the group, Comrade Dr. Ogbonna O.C. and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ohaekweiro Edwin.

They also “strongly condemned the increased speed of kidnapping and unprovoked attacks by the Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram and bandits in the country.”

The communique read in part:

“Delegates wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and all others who were successful in the general elections and wish them successful tenure in the office while we also appreciate those contestants who could not make it at the polls for accepting the outcome of the elections with the spirit of good sportsmanship.

“Delegates applauded the Federal Government for the approval of the new minimum wage but decried the fact that it was yet to be implemented in the nation; so, government should ensure its immediate implementation and it should cut across both federal and state employed.

“Delegates urged the Federal Government through the office of the SGF to expedite action on the payment of our members withheld April and May, 2018 salaries and all other withheld salaries.

“Delegates observed with utmost dismay the abnormalities in the payment of the 2017/2018 promotion arrears. We urge the office of the accountant general to correct these abnormalities.”

On the proposed health sector reform, they said “it should not be characterized by direct or indirect privatization of existing Federal Government facilities as this will only take the health sector from frying pan to fire by taking affordable healthcare away from the reach of an average Nigerian. This will also have adverse effects on teaching and research which are part of the major purposes a teaching hospitals service.

“The Government should ensure that all relevant stakeholders are carried along at every stage of the reform in order for the exercise to yield the expected result.

“The delegates observed with dismay, the disobedience of the Federal Ministry of Health to court judgements. It is appalling and disheartening to note that various court judgements in the union’s favour and that of her composite professional associations from courts of competent jurisdiction have been flagrantly disobeyed with impunity by the Honourable Minister of Health and the entire Federal Ministry of Health.

“We can readily count over fifteen (15) court judgements in favour of the Medical Laboratory Scientists that are yet to be implemented by the Government. We, therefore, request our dear president, President Muhammadu Buhari and the authorities concerned to order the FMOH to implement these judgments without any further delay in order to foster peace in the health sector.

“It is no more news that there is discrimination, marginalization, oppression and suppression of other healthcare professionals by the medical practitioners in the health sector. To worsen the situation, the Government through the sitting president usually appoint both the minister of health and the minister of state for health from among the medical practitioners while no consideration is given to other healthcare professionals who are active players in the health team.

“The delegates, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to please ensure that one of the two ministers be appointed from among the various other professionals that make up the health team in order for us to have an all-encompassing ministry which will give every player a sense of belonging. We hereby appeal that this request be given due

consideration as the president is set to appoint new ministers into various ministries including our dear ministry of health.

“Appointment of Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Teaching Hospitals / Federal Medical Centres: The decree 10 of 1985 now known as CAP 463 LFN 2004 section 5, subsection 2 which reads in part “the Chief Medical Director shall be a person who is medically qualified and registered as such for a period not less than twelve (12) years, has had considerable administrative experience in matters of health and hold post graduate medical qualification obtained not less than five (5) years prior to the appointment as Chief Medical Director”.

“However, this law has been misinterpreted by the Federal Ministry of Health to mean that the post of Chief Executive Officer of Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres are exclusively meant for medical practitioners only. We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure strict adherence to the true interpretation of the law whenever any vacant post of Chief Executive Officer of a Teaching Hospital or Federal Medical Centre is to be filled.”

The climax of the conference was the election of new officers for the union.

They include: Com. Dr. Obinna Chimela Ogbonna – President, Com. Mohammed Yandutse – Deputy President North, Com. PT. Dr. Sotiloye Olusegun. V – Deputy President South, Com. Ibrahim Kamar – Treasurer, Com. Aja Kelechi Chima – Financial Secretary, Com. Edwin Ohaekweiro – Public Relations Officer, Com. Bar. Happiness Ojiyi – Internal Auditor, Com. Josephine Kpalap – Women Leader and Com. Faniran Felix Olukayode – Immediate Past President.