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A few days ago I wrote on what the Nigerian doctors wanted with regards to the ongoing strike that has lasted for 17days today. Among the things they want is that the national health bill be passed. And as we may have it the both houses have passed the bill and are currently working on the final draft for onward submission to the president of the federal republic for final assent. The importance of this bill to the health care sector cannot be overemphasized as it will address the major issues bedeviling the sector. It touches on the rights of the citizens to appropriate healthcare services and the rights of the healthcare provider to treat a patient.   The bill addresses the issue of funding as it set up a Basic Healthcare Provision Fund that will be financed from the federal government annual grant of not less than 1% of its consolidated revenue funds and grants from international donor partners. 50% of this fund will go to health insurance via the NHIS, 20% for the pro...

As I type this the world cup has ended and Germany crowned the world champions after their victory over the Argentines in a scintillating finals and it is about 2 weeks since the doctors in Nigeria embarked on an indefinite strike. This worries me because the poor masses are left at the mercy of the private practitioners, quacks and their fees. Then I ask myself what do these doctors actually want? Did they get it wrong, what happened to their Hippocratic oath , are they being selfish? What do we stand to gain from it as a people and what does the government stand to gain out of all this? The Nigerian doctor has been described as a god who wants to be worshipped, some have also described him as a terrorist equating him to the dreaded boko haram sect. He has received all manner of name calling and insults because he decided to go on a total strike for the first time in a long time. This makes me to wonder does the doctor actually deserve all these. The man/woman whom you will...

A nation’s burden for the future Nigeria our beloved country will be celebrating her centenary. She has come of age as a collection of nations amalgamated to become one. A nation of about 170 million citizens comprising over 300 ethnic sub-nationalities. A country whose national and intellectual capabilities have not been harnessed one bit. A country of great possibilities projected as an emerging world economy and a potential world power. The birth of independence I understood brought a great sense of pride, hope and belief of great things to come. A country that will be self sufficient in all spheres, but this was short lived as tribalism, nepotism and corruption derailed the young republic into civil war, coup and counter coups which robed us of the opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the future and left us in this present quagmire that we find ourselves in today. As our history is checkered with ups and downs, so also has our economy been. Our fathers reminisce o...

The petroleum sector is the live wire of our economy and it is evident that its current state is nothing to write home about, with massive frauds and short-changing of federal accounts going on. Since the fuel subsidy protests, the petroleum sector has been exposed as never before and the stench emanating is so choking that its either we succeed in cleaning up the rot or we sing good bye to our beautiful crude. From the probes in the national assembly to the multiple committees set up to investigate and proffer solutions to ways to make the sector transparent and profitable to the government, the only thing that is manifest is layers and layers of corruption, fraudulent activities, incompetency and inaccuracies. It’s a big shame that we cannot keep our precious hen that lays the golden egg in order. What a shame! Enter Mallam Nuhu Ribadu acclaimed corruption fighter to cleanse the rot. After the 2011 elections with him as the presidential flag bearer of the ACN, some of us foun...