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Union Tells Tinubu To Appoint A Non-physician As Health Minister
The Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, has asked President Bola Tinubu to appoint a non-physician health minister even though it opposes the sale of teaching hospital facilities to private profiteers while the review of ministerial nominees continues.
Mathew Ajurotu stated to other medical professionals that the sale of the teaching hospitals will negatively effect their emoluments contrary to their perceptions in a letter to the President signed by the Acting National Secretary for the National President, JOHESU, and AHPA.
JOHESU argued that the salaries of 20% of the sector’s workers, which account for 60% of the personnel expenditures for the overall health staff in FHIs, are not served by the sales of Federal Health Institutions.
The health workers called for caution on the part of other medical professionals who have been assured that the sale of the facilities won’t affect them.
JOHESU/AHPA said that despite constituting 20 per cent of the total workforce in the sector, it is certain that private profiteers will fire them given reducing overhead costs.
According to them and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association, AHPA, those advocating for concessionaires are avaricious and would increase the healthcare problem and indexes.
The group pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians to take action and prevent the Federal Government from privatising the FHIs.
The letter further states: “Conscionable Nigerians should assist the Federal Government to be decisive in taking a position that the profiteers, concessionaires, greedy entrepreneurs and their collaborators in Government jostling to take over the FHIs be responsible enough to build their world-class health facilities like their presumed equivalents do in the global arena.
“Even in Nigeria today, we have a few tertiary hospitals like Duchess and Reddington Hospital which continue to make footprints in the sands of our evolving healthcare dispensation.
“In Lagos State, where the privatisation of healthcare was kick-started by these same dramatis personae, the experiment has failed. The privatised pharmacies which were about six at inception have failed in at least four of the centres at huge losses to the Lagos State Government, LASG.”
At the Federal level, the commercialisation of the Pharmacy facility of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, collapsed and the concession of Garki Hospital, Abuja, has never been a value-added decision.
Today, that facility is a shadow of itself, as it has become inaccessible to a wide range of consumers of health in the Abuja area.
“We therefore strongly urge the Federal Government not to contemplate the privatisation of Teaching Hospital facilities to private profiteers. We must seize the discourse to advise other health professionals who have been promised that the concession of these facilities will not affect them to be wary and discern wisely.
“Private profiteers will naturally get rid of the block of health professionals whose wages consume 60 per cent of the personnel cost of the entire health workforce in FHIs even when they constitute less than 20 per cent of the entire personnel in the health sector,” it added.
Privatising FHIs, against healthcare equity, accessibility
JOHESU listed the consequences of concessions, privatisation, and outsourcing saying that it does not promote Universal Health Coverage, but would lead to inequity and accessibility rather than efficiency and profitability.
The letter further reads, “Given the monopolistic nature of health systems because of the inelastic nature of their demands, there is little or no probability of competitiveness. It follows that a monopoly that comes with exploitation becomes the order of the day.
“High charges generate crazy profits at the detriment of efficiency, which ultimately defeats the goal of accessibility to health facilities in real terms because health cannot be delivered to vulnerable groups.
“Equity and accessibility rather than efficiency and profitability should be the benchmark to measure performance in healthcare. Patient-care-centred services cannot be the hallmark of concessions and privatisation because profit is the watchword.
“In the proposed privatisation and concession models, the Government’s role is largely regulatory, which is at the same cost as owning the FHI. As stronger institutions outlive the weaker ones which further limits the availability and choices of the citizens, the monopolistic tendencies of formidable profiteers play out at the detriment of consumers of health.
“Privatisation calls to question the integrity of the management of the FHIs dominated by Physicians since the advent of the Teaching Hospital Act of 1985. It is the biggest confirmation of the failure of Physicians in the running of the public hospital system in Nigeria.
“How come these same facilities hitherto dubbed Centres of Excellence in some instances have suddenly become failed enterprises? The only explanation remains that Nigerian Physicians are not seasoned administrators or managers of cognate experience.
“The government, therefore, needs to tinker with the health system by reverting management of FHIs to professionally trained administrators and managers, while health professionals are allowed to embrace their areas of due competence in the public’s good. This is the trend which is in alignment with global best practices,” JOHESU added.
Increased drug costs, out-of-pocket expenses
The health workers further said that privatising teaching hospitals would increase the cost of drugs and diagnostic services which will lead to higher out-of-pocket expenses, leading to more difficulty in healthcare access.
The letter reads, “Generally, privatisation of health services is a precursor to the increased cost of drugs and diagnostic services which will naturally impact on out-of-pocket costs, leading to hardship and more stress junctures in accessing healthcare.
“The privatisation of health facilities is a hurricane that compounds unproductivity in healthcare. The preponderance of Nigerians who live in poverty and squalor will not be able to access or afford health and its major components, which include the use of safe and efficacious drugs in the event of this dreaded reality,” it added.
CEOs of FHIs, MDAs must take hospital management courses
While alleging that the MDAs are adjudged to be the most corrupt sector, JOHESU urged Federal Government to compel CEOs of FHIs, Departments, and Agencies to undergo Health Systems and hospital management courses.
The letter said, “In the interim, the FG must compel all the CEOs of the FHIs, Departments, and Agencies of the Health Sector to run administrative as well as management programmes in Health Systems with bias in hospital management. This will help these incumbent CEOs to administer albeit much better the FHIs, other Departments, and Agencies.
“The FMOH must however make it abundantly clear that it will no longer be automatic for erring CEOs of FHIs to complete their tenure of four years when found wanting.
“Permanently, the FG must return the business of hospital management and administration to seasoned administrators and managers of cognate experience.
“All health professionals who desire to head hospitals in Nigeria must henceforth undertake specialist management and administrative courses at post-graduate levels in specialised schools and institutes.
“These health professionals including Pharmacists, Physicians, Physiotherapists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, and other health workers must be made to study health administration and management in their reviewed curriculum even at the undergraduate level moving forward.
“The Federal Government is enjoined to encourage the management of FHIs that are ready to embark or consolidate the concept of amenity facilities in the FHIs. These services will be available to the nouveau riche who can afford such hyped services.
It will reduce health tourism and save the nation’s hard-earned forex.
“The militating bane remains the tendency to abuse these amenity facilities in FHIs by some of the CEOs.
“We at JOHESU/AHPA have had cause to send evidence-based complaints about misnomers in the handling of DRF Funds and mismanagement of amenity ward resources by some of the CEOs of FHIs.
“An outstanding instance was the report made on the MD/CEO of the NOH, Igbobi which made the FMOH initially declare its readiness to probe this MD/CEO until it later reneged on the probe,” it added.
Incentivise Health Workers Offering Surgeries, Pharmaceutical Care
JOHESU appealed, “Government must incentivise all health professionals and workers who render services including surgeries, pharmaceutical care, diagnostic services with agreed percentages of income realized as amenity allowances to compensate for their skills, time and the totality of their output.
“Your Excellency, as Ministers will be deployed to Ministries in the days ahead, JOHESU/AHPA reiterates its calls for the appointment of a non-Physician Health Minister to pave the way for the restoration of the hitherto great times when Health Administrators steered the ship of healthcare successfully to attract the likes of the Saudi Royal family to UCH, Ibadan in the ‘70s.
“This was the era our Health System was rated as one of the top five in the commonwealth,” JOHESU added.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has justified the activation of the Osun State Security Trust Fund on the ground of growing insecurity and public sector funding challenges facing all levels of government.
To show commitment of the state government, Gov Adeleke announced a contribution of three hundred million naira (N300m) to the trust fund.
On his part, billionaire philanthropist and brother of the state governor, Dr. Deji Adeleke donated five hundred million naira (N500m) while several businesses contributed various amounts.
The governor also used the occasion to announce the imminent sharing of refurbished Armoured Personnel Carriers and new patrol vehicles, declaring that “the administration is determined to maintain Osun’s record as one of the most peaceful states in the country”.
Launching the security trust fund at Osogbo, the governor decried the abandonment of the trust fund initiative by the Oyetola administration, describing the implementation of the trust fund as ‘long overdue’.
According to the governor, several states in Nigeria have established security trust funds. Osun started the process but this was abandoned under the immediate past administration of Mr Gboyega Oyetola.
“Our government decided to revive the initiative by updating the law and organising the launching today. A security trust fund is a matter of necessity considering the security climate in Nigeria and Osun state.
“We all know Nigeria faces security challenges. Yet, available public financing resources are limited. Governments at all levels then initiate public-private partnership to bridge the funding gap.
“It is neither a political project nor a self-serving policy. This is a necessary policy to secure our people. Only an irresponsible government will abandon the PPP arrangement that is working so well in Lagos, Kaduna, River states among others. Ours is a responsible leadership with people-oriented innovations, policies and programmes.
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“This Fund is designed to provide sustainable funding for modern security infrastructure. Through this Fund, we will establish a modern Situation Room with real time CCTV surveillance. We will continue the provision of operational tools required by our security agencies.
The governor appreciated all individuals, corporate organisations and stakeholders that have been contacted. “We appreciate your positive disposition. Today, I am inviting, for partnership, the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, professional bodies and all sons and daughters of Osun State.
“As a trust fund regulated by law, I assure you of strict accountability, transparency and due process in the management of the trust fund”, the governor said.
Secretary to the State Government who also doubled as the deputy chairman of the trust fund, Hon Teslim Igbalaye congratulated the governor for activating the Fund after its enabling law was passed as far back as 2012 while several special guests pleaded support for the initiative.
Public Policy analysts, government officials and other stakeholders have in Lagos hailed the strategic foresight and industrial courage of the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, describing the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a transformative national asset deserving of collective appreciation by Nigerians.
This position was strongly articulated at the 2026 Bullion Lecture, powered by the Centre for Financial Journalism, where the Director‑General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof Nnanyelugo Ike‑Muonso, declared that Nigerians owe Aliko Dangote a profound debt of gratitude for investing in the world‑class refinery.
Delivering the keynote lecture themed “From Resources to Prosperity: How Raw Materials Development, Value Addition and Innovation Can Catalyse Nigeria’s Industrial Renaissance,” Professor Ike‑Muonso said the refinery represents a decisive break from Nigeria’s long‑standing dependence on crude oil exports with minimal domestic value addition.
According to the RMRDC Chief, Nigeria had historically exported crude oil only to re‑import refined petroleum products such as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with little economic benefit beyond crude sales.
“That narrative has now changed. Instead of exporting crude and importing PMS alone, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery processes crude locally to produce PMS, diesel, dual purpose kerosene (DPK), and valuable by‑products for petrochemicals such as polypropylene. This represents complete domestic value addition.”
Prof Ike‑Muonso described the refinery as Nigeria’s most concrete example yet of how strategic industrial investment can unlock the full value of the country’s natural resources.
Against the backdrop of ongoing instability in the Middle East and its implications for global energy supply and price volatility, the RMRDC boss said the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has emerged as a stabilising force and an African‑led solution to global energy challenges.
“With the far‑reaching consequences of the Middle East crisis on global energy markets, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery stands today as a monumental demonstration of strategic foresight, industrial courage and African self‑reliance,” he said.
“Nigeria should, in fact, be praying for Aliko Dangote at this time.”
Prof Ike‑Muonso also presented comparative data on raw‑material value addition across countries, including the United States, India, Brazil, South Africa and Kenya, revealing that Nigeria records the lowest percentage of value addition.
He disclosed that the country loses an estimated $29 billion annually due to the export of raw materials without processing partly due to the energy deficit.
“Rather than exporting raw materials, Nigeria should be exporting processed raw materials and finished products,” he argued.
Identifying obstacles to achieving full value addition, the RMRDC Director‑General highlighted key structural challenges such as: Private infrastructure tax, resulting from companies’ reliance on self‑generated power; Logistics gaps, noting that only about 30 percent of Nigeria’s road network is paved; and Capability gaps within the industrial ecosystem.
He stressed that sustained industrialisation remains Nigeria’s most viable pathway to broad‑based economic prosperity, citing Dangote Industries’ investments as a model for the country.
Earlier in his remarks, Otunba Kelvin Dele Oye, Chairman of the Economic Research and Ethics Committee and former President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), also commended Dangote’s industrial contributions.
He decried what he described as an imbalance in the exploitation of Nigeria’s raw materials by foreign investors, often without meaningful value addition to the local economy.
Otunba Oye called for deliberate government policies and stricter regulatory vigilance to ensure that raw material exploitation benefits Nigerians, while enabling local investors to compete favourably with foreign players.
The event, which marked the 10th anniversary of the Bullion Lecture, also featured the unveiling and launch of a commemorative book titled “Pathways to Nigeria’s Socio‑Economic Transformation.”
The book, authored by Mr. Ray Echebiri, Chief Executive of the Centre for Financial Journalism, documents all lectures delivered since the inception of the Bullion Lecture series.
Photo Caption
From Left: GMD/CEO, Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak; Chairman, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd., Yin Zhisong; Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, Yan Yaqing; President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; Chairman of the Board, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd., Lin Zhisong and Vice President Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, during the Sinoma International visit to Dangote Head Office in Lagos
NEWS
Dangote Refinery Exports 1.1bn Litres of Aviation Fuel to Europe, Supplies 95% of Nigeria’s Jet A1 – AON
The Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a critical pillar of support for Nigeria’s aviation industry, disclosing that the refinery currently supplies over 95 per cent of the Jet A1 fuel consumed nationwide.
Biztellers reports that the company also exported 1.1 billion litres of aviation fuel to Europe between March and April 20.
Speaking during a televised interview, AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo said the refinery’s output has played a vital role in sustaining domestic airline operations at a time of global supply disruptions arising from tensions in the Middle East and rising fuel costs.
“It is a matter of fact that over 95 per cent of aviation fuel supplied across the country comes from the Dangote refinery. To airline operators in Nigeria, Dangote is not just a refinery; it is a game changer and, indeed, a lifesaver,” Okonkwo said.
He noted that despite the refinery’s consistent supply, airlines continue to face severe operational strain due to escalating Jet A1 prices, which he attributed to sharp practices within the downstream distribution chain.
According to Okonkwo, some fuel marketers are allegedly creating artificial scarcity in spite of available supply from the refinery, leading to disproportionate price increases. He disclosed that airline operators have recorded Jet A1 price hikes of up to 300 per cent since the onset of the Middle East crisis.
“We consider this exploitation. The refinery has not indicated any shortage, yet we are witnessing artificial scarcity and unjustifiable price increases. What airlines pay does not reflect depot prices,” he said, suggesting the presence of racketeering within the market.
Echoing these concerns after a closed‑door meeting between the AON and the Federal Government, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, described the situation as deeply troubling, particularly given that the Dangote refinery sells its products at comparatively lower rates.
“The truth is that marketers must be called to account. How do prices rise by as much as 300 per cent when Dangote’s supply remains the cheapest and some marketers source directly from the refinery?” Onyema asked. “So, why the astronomical increase?”
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Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery continues to expand its footprint in the international aviation fuel market. Industry data indicate that the facility exported approximately 876,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel to Europe within the period under review—about 456,000 tonnes in March and an additional 420,000 tonnes by April 20.
These export volumes underscore the refinery’s growing capacity and improved logistics, further reinforcing Nigeria’s emerging role in the global downstream oil and gas market, even as it strengthens domestic energy security.
Photo Caption
From Left: President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Museveni; President of Kenya, H.E. William Ruto, and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, Samaila Zubairu, at The Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday.
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