The National Hospital in Abuja has denied allegations by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) that it dismissed three doctors. This clarification comes in response to a 14-day strike notice issued by the FCT branch of the NMA. The association had demanded the reinstatement of the affected doctors, claiming they were let go after working for three years as casual staff. It also warned of a possible indefinite strike beginning June 30, 2025, if the demand is not met.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, the hospital’s Head of Information and Protocol Management, Maijamaa Adamu, stated that no staff had been sacked. He stressed that the doctors in question were never officially employed but were working under a temporary arrangement known as locum. This system allows hospitals to hire doctors for six months, with renewals depending on operational needs.
Adamu explained that these doctors had completed their residency at the hospital and were retained temporarily under this locum system. He noted that this setup does not equal permanent employment and added that the hospital lacks the authority to employ staff permanently without federal approval.
In late 2023, the Federal Government approved the recruitment of 83 permanent staff for the hospital, including 10 consultant positions. Adamu revealed that all 10 roles were filled by existing locum consultants, showing that the hospital does absorb temporary staff when slots become available.
He clarified that once residency ends, doctors are free to leave and seek permanent positions elsewhere if no vacancies exist at the hospital. The locum doctors typically receive six months’ notice before exiting, which aligns with practices in other federal hospitals. Their continued stay beyond this period is considered a generous gesture by the hospital and not an obligation.
Adamu concluded by saying that any formal agreement does not support any continued expectations of employment beyond the locum arrangement, as final employment decisions are outside the hospital’s control.
