Bomba Dauda
The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Osundara Tope, has strongly condemned the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Professor Abdulkadir Musa Tabari, over an alleged statement referring to doctors in the state as “bandits.”
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Dr. Osundara described the remark as “reckless, unacceptable, and unbecoming of a seasoned administrator,” insisting that Prof. Tabari must retract the statement and issue a public apology without delay.
He also decried what he termed a “triangular axis of evil” — referring to systemic failures involving the CMDs, hospital leadership, and the Kaduna State Government — that has continued to undermine the welfare of doctors in the state.
“Doctors in Kaduna State have been subjected to extremely harsh working conditions, including over a decade of stagnated salaries on the 2014 CONMESS structure,” the NARD President said. “The few house officers available — only three under state employ and six unpaid — reflect the dire human resource crisis in our healthcare system.”
Dr. Osundara criticized the termination of appointments issued to resident doctors at BDTH amid worsening conditions, adding that poor remuneration and low morale have led to new recruits abandoning their positions even before resumption.
“It is shocking that in a country battling a massive brain drain in the health sector, the CMD of a major teaching hospital finds justification to dismiss already overstretched personnel,” he said.
NARD, he added, “totally rejects the unjust termination of its members” and urged the Kaduna State Government to prioritize the welfare of its doctors by addressing longstanding concerns over remuneration, staffing, and working conditions.
The association has also called for the immediate removal of Prof. Tabari as CMD of BDTH as a condition for further engagement and resolution of the crisis.
“NARD will continue to engage relevant stakeholders until our demands are fully met. We stand firmly with our colleagues in Kaduna State during this trying time,” Dr. Osundara affirmed.
He concluded by urging the state government to uphold continuous health service delivery and show empathy in handling matters affecting healthcare workers.
