NO fewer than 900 health workers in Garki Hospital, Abuja, may lose their jobs as the 15-year Public-Private-Partnership contract between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and NISA Premier, who currently manage the health facility.
The Nation newspaper reports that the FCTA had on March 1,2022 given the current managers of the Garki Hospital a month’s notice to prepare to hand over the facility to it on April 1, 2022. According to the report, the concession agreement for the PPP was signed between NISA Premier and the FCTA in 2007 for a tenure of 15 years.
The report further stated that aside from the percentage given to the FCT Administration at the end of every year when the hospital management declares profit, NISA Premier has paid the total annual concession fees, rent on quarters and all other payments stipulated on the agreement to the tune of N406 million since the beginning of the agreement.
It is reported that there are over 900 medical personnel, including 21 consultants, 113 medical doctors, 24 house officers, 159 nurses, 96 patient-care attendants, pharmacists, medical record officers, laboratory scientists and other technicians, currently working at the hospital.
The Nation quoted some sources to have explained that after the agreement was signed, the FCT Administration removed all equipment in the then General Hospital. NISA Premier had to start equipping the hospital from scratch. Currently, all equipment in the hospital is owned by NISA Premier.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has, however, urged the FCT Administration to consider renewing the concession agreement between it and the hospital managers because of the sterling medical services the hospital has offered residents over the years.
The FCT chapter Chairman of the NMA, Dr Enema Amodu said: “Apart from the over 900 workers, there are patients that are on long term intensive care that will require suitable arrangements so that they continue to receive life-saving medications.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media and Strategic Communication, Malam Abubakar Sani called for calm. According to him, there is no crisis between the FCT Administration and the management of NISA Premier.
