@Kdular
You spoke out of grudge and maybe i detect a tinge of envy in your statements.
That seems to be the angle you're taking from.
Get over your grudge and pettiness and see the facts of the issue and you'll feel a lot better.
I wonder why these other health workers dont compete with doctors in better health systems.
People should let go of their inferiority complexes and face issues, a government who signs agreements should have enough integrity to go through with it and notresort to cheap public blackmail.

I've been advising my doctor friend's in LASG service to leave ASAP. Im happy i took that decision several years ago. It is obvious the government is undeserv ing of their service. .and worse still the people who should keep the government on their toes and demand good service are also castigating doctors for going on strike. Please if you're reading this as a doctor, don't hesitate to write your exams and get out ASAP. Leave for places where you're appreciated, where you work hand in hand with Nurses, Pharmacists and Lab technicians without envy or strife. There are jobs in the UK, loads of it. If in doubt check out www.jobs.nhs.uk, the pay is stipulated with each post and often comes with banding supplements(up to an extra 50% of the quoted salary).
Nigeria needs doctors but it wont happen till doctors get their dues, till the government and the people realise the need for proper renumeration of people looking after their health.

lukkie: Buhari spoke the minds of a lot of people. Nigerians are frustrated with this criminal enterprise calling themselves the govt. They have realised how dumb they were to vote the dumbo based on religious and ethnic sentiments.

I hear people everyday wishing Boko Haram bombs the National Assembly and Aso Rock. They're not sadists - that's just a sign of frustration and hopelessness.

Personally, I don't see anything good coming out of this govt who don't even admit that we have any problem. Meanwhile, corruption has consumed the entire nation. It's just so sad to find ourselves in this mess.

Thank you o!
Everyone can now see GEJ has failed and continuing to fail. . .only problem is he has a retinue of failures following and deceiving him for money.
Buhari spoke the minds of honest Nigerians. I will keep supporting him, we know where he stands. GEJ=PDP=BOKO HARAM=Bamanga Tukur. . .no be so?

beneli:

I agree with you there. . .

I don’t know the full coverage of the CONMESS thing that the government is now reneging on, but my hope is that it takes into consideration the issues you raise.

The fact is that Doctors also have the right to a proper work-life balance, in spite of their much vaunted obligations to ‘save lives’. Where they are not able to have this balance, due to peculiar conditions they may find themselves working in, attempts should be made as much as possible to adequately compensate them. If other professionals feel that they too are not adequately compensated, they also should be making representations to the government through their unions for better conditions of work.

To be frank, it is in poor taste to bemoan the agitation of Doctors, only asking to be treated with a little bit more respect . . .

In the UK, those in NHS training posts (the equivalence of Resident Doctors in Nigeria) are bound by what is called the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) that requires them to work not more than 48 hours in a week. This was fought for and won by the British Medical Association, which by the way performs pretty much the same role that the NMA performs.

Hospitals get around this EWTD by additionally employing extra Doctors, willing to take up non-training posts (usually desperate overseas Doctors) to fill up the slots left as a result of the restricted working hours. These restrictions also create opportunities for locum agencies that are not bound by the EWTD to sign up Doctors already employed by the NHS, but willing to work more hours (above the EWTD) as locums. Some junior Doctors working out of hours or doing locums in places like London have been able to earn an extra £1.2 - 1.5k every month (up to 18k per annum) on top of their salaries . . . which by the way was already way higher than the average salary earned by everybody else (except perhaps investment bankers working in the ‘city’)!

There is no getting around the fact that to get a functional health service, ALL health practitioners need to be adequately compensated. Nurses in the UK are able to achieve a reasonable income by doing extra shifts in their places of work and also doing ‘agency work’ . . . similar to the locums that Doctors do for their out of hour and weekend jobs.

To be honest, if Doctors here in the UK were paid the same kind of comparatively demeaning compensation that our colleagues in Nigeria are paid, I am sure that there would have been some sort of industrial action or temporary downing of tools! But the people who make the rules here are smart enough to recognise the role health professionals play in the proper functioning of their countries, so remunerate them commensurately. A lot of Doctors and GP’s in the UK earn way more than the legislators and the ministers here (MP’s)!

One can however understand the frustration of the general public, but I think that the anger from it, is misdirected. The public should not be venting its displeasures against overworked Doctors, who are only asking for the government to fulfil its pledges to pay them a wage somewhat more reflective of the work the Doctors put in. The rage should be against the politicians who have been squandering the common wealth of all Nigerians and still have the state of mind to pay themselves obscene wages for doing absolutely nothing . . . !

Well said.Most of us sign the opt out forms with the NHS when we resume any new post. This frees us to make a lot more money from locums. I think Nigeria's problem has to do with some people wanting exactly the same income without the same inputs with doctors hence the bad-blood.
As a SpR with one of the northern deaneries, income from locum agencies alone gross me about 2.5k monthly(average £60-80) an hour, sometimes more. This is why we left the country and sadly more people will leave with this rash decision of the Lagos state govt. I only hope people will realise early enough and call the government to other.
Fine, we all know the civil service needs reforms in nija. This would have been an opportunity for the LASG to make far reaching changes. i believe they can decide to pay more than the doctors demand but then ask for increased productivity. No more 'lifetime' employment. Make it renewable contracts and set targets. Contracts will put an end to incessant demands and contracts will be tied to performance. If indeed they are interested in making Lagosians enojy better services, this is the way to go.

Just heard the locum doctors are paid 20k for 8hours and 30k for a night call. . . .
Hmmm....not sure if the doctors would have gone on strike in the first place if they paid them at these rates.
One then begins to wonder why the goverment is playing hardball. Obviously they realise the work doctors do is worth a lot more than they currently pay.
Just read on a blog about Fashola's father being flown abroad for treatment, this is exactly why they can afford to toy with the lives of Lagosians by playing hard with doctors. Unfortunately the very people who should be applying pressure on the government to resolve this crisis.
Eko o ni baje.

kaz4sure: infact it was a sad news today in the campus, He died of cardiac arrest after which he was rushed to lagos university hospital in Idiaraba, how i wish we have the type of hospital where muamba was treated in Nigeria, it would ve been anoda news......May his soul rest in peace

This is sad. . . .and the country is still sacking doctors instead of spending money to train and retrain medical staff.
I hope someday people will realise that all the money you have will not save you in an emergency.
God help Nigeria

princey83:

m sure the ministry of health would have accepted like 10,000 applications by now to replace the sacked ones. Thank God you did not study medicine. Hope ur dad pays the ones in his hospital more than 100k per month, else ur guess is as good as mine. nuff said. byeeeee!

10,000 applications? Do you have any idea the total number of doctors ever trained in Nigeria since inception of medical training and regsitration?Are you aware of the number practicing outside Lagos as a state?
This is not counting the number who have died, left Nigeria, and those not practicing anymore. . .You sure need education before commenting.

princey83:

they don't pay u much in the UK, do they? I bet u are dreaming and wishing u were practicing in north America but our standard here are high. UK doctors are not much different from naija doctors anyway.LOL

I will not descend to your levels by telling you how much i earn, i believe you have internet access. Your inferiority complex is definitely striking. First you think Nigerian doctors are unemployable, next you compare pay in a very ignorant manner. I wonder what makes you think north America has the best in the sub specialities?You do really need to read a bit before making comments, you're not displaying good cognitive functions here.

princey83:

Which abroad, that was in the olden days when we had proper university. In Canada today, it would take an Indian doctor at least 7 years of training in Canada by writing certification exams before he can be allowed to touch a patient not to talk of half baked naija doctors. They end up as lab technicians and assistant in hospitals here. Some even drive cabs. There is this popular saying in Canada that the best place to have an heart attack is in a cab.

You are so ill informed.
I've been working in the Uk several years and every unit i have worked have taken new Nigerian doctors, 2 of my current SHOs in paediatrics are Nigerians, one was taken straight from LUTH(after passing his exams of course).
So my dear, forget the propaganda they're feeding you with. Any Nigerian Doctor worth his salt will have absolutely no problem working in the Uk and you can drown your inferiority complex.

Oh great!
More excuse for even the local govt councillors to take your money and come to the UK for treatment.
The doctors will go to their private hospitals or finally leave the shores of Nigeria, afterall their services are better appreciated in saner countries.
The losers?well, most of those applauding the silly government, these folks along with their friends and families will be the victims.
Until people realise the politicians are their real enemies and not those demanding for their dues, you'll be the footmat in this titanic battle and unfortunately the only losers.

So they know them?
Why are they not prosecuting the sponsors?
Is this some kind of charade to keep the gullible masses happy?
Or just something to appeal to a section of the country by appealing to their paranoia about certain personalitites?
Whatever the case, it is obvious this clueless government is getting worse and their lies are running thin.
Azzazi said it, this is a PDP phenomenon.

guonno: leadership belongs to the north, it caused d biafran war, and now its taking d lifes of profesors. The norths r born to rule, since there r not in power, it makes them sad to the extent that they formed bgoko haram that is killing our profesos. Lol.

I guess this excuses the president from doing anything about the security situation apart from making empty promises.
Rubbish!

Donbrig: Some Nigerians could be very very foolish. All those that voted for Jonathan and not PDP are as guilty as boko haram. Pls, we should wake up and learn that there is nothing wrong with Nigeria but PDP. They are the party drawing Nigerians go their early grave.. GEJ once said we should learn to cope with bomb blast, of course we are learning to cope. We must accept things the way they are till 2015 where we're going to have another chance to choose PDP the party of DEATH or a new party for change and more united Nigeria. For now, we will continue to lose innocent souls till we make the right choice in 2015.

Unfortunately they won't agree with you. A president who says it's ''our turn'' to be bombed has no right to be in the state house. Unfortunately again, they will come insulting you now cos you spoke the truth. Its a pity Nigeria is in a catch 22 position.

If Islam truly is the religion of peace, i expect a demostration from the muslims against all these killings.
If a cartoon was published in denmark people will demonstrate,now is the time to see those peace loving muslims coming out openly to condemn this with public demostrations, except inwardly they enjoy a sadistic satisfaction from seeing innocent christian lives being taken.
That being said, the useless government of GEJ needs to resign if he cant fulfil what he swore to do.
I am tired of excuses of Boko haram being a ''northern'' invention to scuttle his presidency. For heaven's sake GEJ has all the apparatus of state at his disposal to do his wish. He is simply spineless to take on people he is afraid of. Nigeria at this juncture doesn't need a docile, uninspiring leader. He should either grow a pair or resign.

These bombings will continue until yiou guys forget about the subsidy probe entirely.
Weldone PDP! At least we clearly know who Boko Haram is now.

Definitely Azzazi!
Considering the degree of cluelessness of GEJ, i'd trust a proffesional.

Ah! i see!
Reminds me of a particular clueless president who was quick to say ''it wasn't MEND'' after the oct 1 blasts.
I see it's becoming the norm these days.
He may be right though, since his government and the NSA know for sure who the real ''boko haram'' guys are.
A very useless government

. . . . . and GEJ shows his ''incapabilities'' once again.
I never expected him to own up anyway. Azzazi said the truth. It's sickening to see people defending this joke of a president and his useless party.
GEJ is certainly not ''fit for purpose''.

Guess this makes it obvious GEJ and his men kow those behind the BH problem.
They have refused to bring them to book because they are GEJ's friends and bosses.
So much for those trying to pin the evil acts on Buhari and CPC.
The hatred for the man will always make them mention his ame in something that clearly has nothing to do with him. He has never been a member of the PDP!
There you go GEJ=PDP=Boko Haram.
Hope we kick them out at the next election.

''She's our daughter, abeg leave her''
Let her steal
bla bla bla. . . . . i'm surprised they're not all over this thread just yet.

Once again, supporters of corryption will try to derail this thread from a fight against corruption to a tribal war.
It is obvious though, anyone making illegal money from the status quo will fight tooth and nail to support the crime and sweep things under the carpet.
The point though is that this corruption is selling out the future of the country, it is sinking the lives of the ordinary people of Nigeria regardless of where they live. This wanton wastefulness should be fought to a standstill and this SNG action hinges on the presdident doing 'nothing' about it. If GEJ is a honourable man, he will follow through on his promise to fight corruption and ensure everyone mentioned faces justice.
If he does his job well then the SNG will be irrelevant.
Folks, dont't let this degenrate into name calling as supporters of corruption will have us do, it pays them to totally avoid the subject matter and talk about persons, unfortunately for them people have long seen beyond this ruse, seems to have stopped working a while back.
I may not always agree with ''rhino's posts but he sure deserves to be called T.B Rhino on this thread!

Good call and all well meaning Nigerians should support this.
However give it a little time before all the ''leave our son alone'' army start to crawl out of the wood work.

nuclearboy: How Jonathan's government handles this issue will make or break his gevernment!

Any "Nigerian" who allows this information to be swept under the rug is obviously a few items short of a salad

You'd be surprised!
''He is our son'', afterall the hausas have been eatring Nigeria's money for decades, these and more are the statements you'd hear from the suffering and smiling idiotas whose families live in poverty yet they support a government that will further impoverish their generations unborn.

Anyone will have to be severely mentally retarded, or plain incapable of sound reasoning to vote for ineptitude once again.
Anyway, seeing the reasons people voted him last time, i would be surprised if evolution has caught on that much, i think some pre-historic reasoning will make some still vote for him.
It will be a shame on Nigeria.

;DI don't usually wish anyone evil but i hope this guy gets gang-rap3d in prison
This may teach him a lesson.
Imagine the world class hospitals his stolen wealth could have built
Imagine the number of pregnant women who wouldn't have died in labour
Imagine all the children born prematurely that would have had good incubator care
just imagine!
Infact, may he be gang-rap3d by a bunch of HIV infested never-do-wells!

I have to give it to the Yorubas. Your case(s) have been well summarized and stated.
I'm not into tribalism but reading through these posts. They have it spot on and the people attacking them are just being mischievous and self delusional.
To be honest, if this integration thing succeeds, it will be a model for the whole country to follow.
That cannt be a bad thing, can it?
Anyone who loves Nigeria will champion the cause of true federalism.
I've been wondering about the whole fixation thing with the southwest and their governors in all the stories on this forum, methinks it's probably because they are active and achieving. One this is clear though, love them or hate them, there's one thing you can't do and that is ignore them.
Wish i could say that for other governors in the country presently.

greateros: GEJ beware the ides of march

Seems the stab that will kill you will come from your kinsmen

Most certainly. They are the same ones who think anyone critical of any policy is against their son.Unfortunately they will remain backwards even with all the oil in their background if they don't realise who their real enemies are.
The real enemies of the Niger delta people are their elite who plunder them and then redirect their gullible minds at other ethnicities.
It is time MEND starts to realise they need to fight their governors and ministers. . . . .

The general can have my vote this time and any other time. Only the foolish do the same things and expect different results.
The country has been under the jackboot of the PDP for what?13yrs? All we have to show for that are the dashed hopes, worsening economy, increasing corruption and worse still an inept and unprepared man for President.
I suspect it won't be a long time before the unsubstantiated and false accusations start to roll out against him.
Any right thinking soul will understand these lies stem from ethnic and religious hatred, not sound reason.
Nigeria needs a departure from the current and i believe the General can offer just that.

Proud to be Ex-Ife!
Greatest Ife!

Idowuogbo:

Are u madddddddddddddddd?? Answer me.Like seriously u swallow stone ni ,abi u inhale antiseptic powder.

U and ur agbero boi boi try frame Ify and u expect folks to let you get away with it rite?

Did u ask ur boi boi how d 4th email came about and how strange Ify never got it, Did u ? i fit letter slap u if u no answer me oo.

U never cared to ask but u had d energy 2 start acting like a mad woman confessing in d village square. Listen u better go and call ur 419 colleague to type a post of apology to Ify b4 i dismantle ur handle.If deres anything i hate d most, its wen folks take people that genuinely wanna help for a ride.Now listen to me dear cockroach, if u no wan make Amadioha ask for ur hand in marriage u better solo heddiottttt!!!!!!


Cheiiii!!!!!


Oga Lenny, in-short make i troway salute give u first,EYINMBA for u jare.

Okay bck to dealings, u sure say den register u as human being so? Kai u b professor for Frame-up.

Dude see as u do us cunny cunny join 4th email, i swear who ever did dis to u shall roll in hell o shout Amen! , see wetin starvation dey do ur life.

Sir! if i make ask, who d hell did u think u were dealing wiv sef? u think Ify brain dey operate on top slow motion abi?

U don't want to operate in Nigeria bcus my yellow mango passed away abi?

No b ur fault na internet dey give Yahoo plus 10000 boys like u chance na.


Anofia! foolish nkita! ara gba ndi ara

You vex small for the guy o!

If this story is true, then it's quite sad.
Right now i've got niggling worries about the whole set up and i may be wrong.
Maybe it's just that the proponents of action in this case are not getting their points accross accurately.
If 'stagger'' suggested UNTH why won't the family of the patient run down there if thats where they'll get succour?
Asking the person who suggested UNTH to get you contacts doesn't show any seriousness on the part of the patients. If anything im sure parents of a child in need will not hesitate to go to sokoto if that is where their baby might be helped.
It is also quite easy referring from one teaching hospital to the other, letr UBTH refer her straight to UNTH, most specialists in teaching hospitals know each other especially in the same fields. The parents could also ask their consultant in UBTH to refer them to the specialist in UNTH, surely this can't be hard, its just one more letter.
I just hope someone isn't trying to scam people by playing up the health of a child, that will be the lowest of lows.
I just hope that isn't the case.