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Private Hospitals explain why they can’t pay Minimum Wage say they get more dead bodies than patients

The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP, says private hospitals in Nigeria are folding up due to the ravaging economic downturn.

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It also revealed that the nation’s economic situation has forced several Nigerians into self medication, resulting in organ failure and subsequently, death.

ANPMP’s Chairman, Dr Odia Festus Ihongbe in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, weekend, in Abuja, said that morgues were being filled up with dead bodies, while hospital beds were empty.

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According to him, “people come only when it becomes critical and they just want you to do magic. And some want to die in the hospital, maybe because of confusion in their families.”

Dr Odia revealed that Nigerians now google their symptoms and buy “drugs from chemists until it gets to the terminal stage.

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“Sometimes, we keep them outside and issue death certificates because if you don’t do that, they will come in and dump the body in your hospital and say they are going to look for money for burial”.

Odia further lamented that private hospitals cannot afford to pay the N70,000 minimum wage recently approved by the federal government, owing to poor revenue.

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He said, “How will the private sector pay the N70,000 minimum wage?

“Meanwhile the private sector employs 80 percent of doctors and nurses and other scientists, so we are more in number.

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“If you have like eight to ten cleaners in your hospital, that’s already about N800,000. Who will pay that money?”

“We provide services to 80 percent of healthcare services in Nigeria yet the government does not show concern about developing the private sector.

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“They do more lip service than giving us required attention. Whatever affects health, affects the private sector more.

“You have to provide accommodations for your workers, pay salaries like any other businesses.”

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He lamented that prices of essential drugs and hospital equipment have skyrocketed due to the forex crisis.

“We buy drugs and other heavy equipment and the prices of all these things are galloping everyday.

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“For instance, the oxygen machine that we used to buy for N25,000 some years ago, went to about N100,000 and we raised the alarm.

“Now the same machine is over N1.5 to N2 million. How do we survive it? These are even minor pieces of equipment.

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“Now, the interest rate in banks is something else and no bank wants to help us because it’s not a ‘sharp sharp’ business”, he lamented.

He further stated that the only way the Nigerian medical system would work effectively was through the national health insurance, which according to him, collapsed 20 years ago.

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He said, “Where the Nigerian medical system would have worked is through national health insurance. This has been destroyed for over 20 years.

“For over 20 years, they could only cover 4 percent of the Nigerian population. Recently they said the insurance has increased from N500 to N700, how can N700 treat a person for a whole month?

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“They know the truth, but they are acting like they are ignorant. Some months ago, we said we are not treating again, then they added N400.

“You can see that there is no seriousness. Between now and December, we will stop treating them. They should go and look for how to treat their patients.

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“The way Nigerians are dropping dead every day is alarming. If we have resolved as a country to reduce the population of Nigerians through negative health index, let us come out openly and say it.

“Because Nigerians can no longer access healthcare. Paracetamol that used to be N250 is now N7000. I don’t know how they want Nigerians to survive.

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“Ordinary syringe of N250 is now more than N7000 per pack. We are all confused. People are just dying and mortuaries are filled up”.

On the issue of minimum wage, Odia stated that “if health insurance is working and the government is paying when they are supposed to pay, the hospital will be able to settle these bills.”

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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas

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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.

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The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.

Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

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While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun

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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun

The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)

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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told

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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.

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National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.

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He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.

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“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.

“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)

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