Doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja (FTHL), under the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), staged a protest on Monday, decrying severe manpower shortages and the suspension of their president, Dr. Jimoh Umar.
The protest took place on the hospital premises, with the doctors expressing frustration over excessive workloads caused by the exodus of healthcare workers. Immediate-past NMA state chairman, Dr. Olushola Baoku, emphasized the urgent need for recruitment to address the crisis.
“We’re overwhelmed with work due to a severe lack of doctors, nurses, and even cleaners,” Baoku said. “We demand the immediate recruitment of personnel and the reinstatement of Dr. Umar, as directed by the health minister.”
The suspension of Dr. Umar, stemming from his role in a 2024 protest, was another focal point of the doctors’ grievances. Baoku stressed their constitutional right to protest without fear of victimization.
The doctors also appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, to grant a waiver allowing the hospital to recruit more workers, a process allegedly stalled by the Federal Government’s restrictions.
“We have written to key federal authorities but received no resolution. This protest is a last resort to demand fairness, equity, and accountability,” Baoku added.
The ARD called on hospital management to prioritize staff welfare and prevent further strain on the remaining workforce, urging swift government action to avert a collapse of healthcare services in the state.