The National Hospital in Abuja has rejected claims made by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Federal Capital Territory branch, that it sacked three doctors.
The NMA had issued a 14-day ultimatum on Friday, threatening to go on a total and indefinite strike from June 30 if the doctors who they say were employed casually for three years and later dismissed were not reinstated.
Responding to the allegations, the hospital’s spokesperson, Maijamaa Adamu, clarified that no currently employed doctor or consultant at the hospital had been dismissed.
In fact, he said the hospital is in the process of hiring more medical staff after receiving approval from the Federal Government to recruit a set number of doctors and nurses.
According to him, the recruitment is being handled transparently by a panel involving representatives from relevant government agencies.
Adamu explained that the issue might stem from a misunderstanding about the status of certain consultants who had completed their residency at the hospital and were then temporarily retained under a short-term arrangement known as “locum.”
This type of contract, he said, lasts six months and can be renewed if necessary, but it does not amount to permanent employment.
The hospital doesn’t have the authority to employ such consultants permanently unless vacancies are officially approved.
He added that in 2023, when the government granted the hospital 83 employment slots including 10 for consultants those 10 positions were given to locum consultants already working there as a gesture of goodwill.
Once their locum term ends, he said, the hospital gives them a six-month notice to find other employment, as is standard practice in other teaching hospitals.
Continuing their locum contract is considered a generous move and depends on the hospital’s operational needs not a promise of permanent employment.
Efforts to get a comment from the NMA FCT Chairman, Dr. Emeka Ayogu, were unsuccessful as he didn’t respond to calls or messages at the time this report was filed.
