Corruption: Politicians Now Steal In Billions, Alleges Wabba, NLC President
…As General, Private Medical Practitioners Visit Him
By Saidu Idris
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Thursday night said that corruption has become endemic in the Nigerian public system.
He said that the corruption has stifled critical sectors of the economy especially the health sector, denying it the needed infrastructure.
Wabba made the allegation in Abuja when he received in audience, the representatives of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), led by its president, Dr. Iyke Odo.
The association was on advocacy visit to intimate the NLC leadership of the association’s centenary anniversary programmes coming up in August this year.
He also decried some of the policies of government, describing them as “incoherent”.
He said: “Government policies in Nigeria are not coherent, that is one of the reasons for our fight. Politicians now steal in billions, making one to question the fight against corruption. Is there fight against corruption in Nigeria? Stealing is more today than ever. Government policies require discipline and prudence by their administrators for them to be successful.”
Speaking on the centenary programme of AGPMPN, the NLC President promised that the organised labour union would give necessary support to it.
“Labour and Doctors must put heads together, to make the health sector work. In many parts of the world, there exists synergy between Private Doctors and Governments. That is how it should be in Nigeria.” Wabba said.
Earlier in his speech, Dr. Odo told the NLC President that Nigeria’s economic terrain remains “rough, slippery and dark and it has taken a dogged, determined and informed labour leadership to have weathered the tempestuous storms of our system”, for investors in the health sector.
He said: “AGPMPN remains the greatest partners of government at all levels in promoting and providing healthcare to Nigerians. We provide over 70 per cent of the healthcare needs of our people and provide the equivalent percentage in the manpower needs and infrastructure in the health sector.
“We have done this much and continue to do so in a consistent manner despite the grave odds that stare every investor in our country in the face, especially investing in the very delicate and intensely demanding venture of healthcare services.”
Dr. Odo further described private doctors as critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s health care journey.
“The gateway to Nigeria’s healthcare journey, the frontline doctors in the land. We are the most available and the most accessible doctors in the country and we have shouldered the healthcare burden of Nigerians in the larger dimension for our healthcare system to be standing today.
“AGPMPN is 100 years this year, having been founded in 1921. We are the oldest medical association in Nigeria, even older than Nigeria. This is significant and it is historic. We desire to dedicate the marking of this great milestone to standing by the Nigerian government as it strives towards giving Nigerians the quality healthcare they truly deserve, private sector partnership.
“We plan to host a health dialogue that would articulate a blue print on the private sector perspective on health to reinforce the position of the NMA and other stakeholders on the policy thrust of our healthcare delivery system”, he said.
Earlier on Tuesday 15th June, the AGOMPN train was at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on a similar advocacy visit.
Dr. Steve Egbo, Director of Administration and Training who received the Team on behalf of the Director General, commended AGPMPN for waking up to the reality of the huge challenges in the country’s health sector.
He assured that the Nigerian Television Authority will give every necessary support to the Centenary events the association is planning especially in the area of media exposure for the events.
