The National Hospital, Abuja, has denied reports that it dismissed three doctors from its workforce.

The Head of the Information and Protocol Management Department at the hospital, Maijamaa Adamu, made the clarification on Saturday in response to an inquiry sent by our correspondent on Friday.

The Federal Capital Territory branch of the Nigerian Medical Association issued a 14-day strike ultimatum to the management of the National Hospital, Abuja, on Friday, demanding the reinstatement of three doctors who were dismissed after being casualised for three years at the hospital.

The association warned that its members at the hospital would embark on a total and indefinite strike beginning June 30, 2025, if the doctors are not reinstated.

Adamu, however, clarified that no doctor or consultant currently employed by the hospital has been dismissed.

In a statement, Adamu said, “We wish to state in categorical terms that, the National Hospital does not even contemplate laying off any category of its staff, talk less of doctors/consultants whose services are of great value to the hospital and the nation in general.

“In fact, our recent joy stems from approval granted by the Federal Government to recruit certain numbers of doctors and nurses, and the recruitment exercise is being meticulously carried out by a panel of inter agency representatives including supervisory ministries, in line with recruitment procedures of the Federal Government.

Perhaps, the bone of contention is consultants that have completed their residency training in the National Hospital and have been engaged on temporary arrangement popularly called locum. This is purely an adhoc arrangement of the National Hospital, with a time frame of six months, renewable if conditions warrant, and does not in anyway amount to employment, which the hospital management does not have such mandate.

“When, however, employment opportunities arise, considerations are given to those consultants as was the case when in late 2023 permission was granted to the hospital for 83 slots of employment, 10 of which were for consultants.

“In the magnanimity of the hospital management, all the 10 slots were taken by the existing Locum Consultants in a bid to address the problem.”

It noted that for the avoidance of doubts, the official position is that, on completion of residency training, such consultants are free to take their exit and seek for employment elsewhere in the absence of vacancy to absorb them in the hospital.

“The management in such circumstances gives six months exit notice to them as obtainable in other tertiary hospitals.

“Opting to retain them on the locum arrangement, is an extra magnanimous policy of the management that is mutually beneficial to both parties, and is absolutely subject to favourable operational conditions of the moment, as there is no formal commitment for absorption since that is beyond the powers of the hospital management,” it added.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Chairman of the NMA FCT, Dr. Emeka Ayogu, were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to a text message as of the time of filing this report. (The PUNCH)