Jide Idris, The Permanent Doctors' Nemesis In Lagos State

I had cause to write about a certain Dr Jide Idris, the two-time Commissioner of Health in Lagos State of Nigeria.

While this peculiar man seems absolutely unbothered about "repeating a class" by agreeing to be appointed yet again as the health commissioner, his appointer is certainly impressed with his bizzaire strategy of "dealing" with medical doctors in the employ of the state....chief of which is the unholy casualisation of physician duties in Lagos State!

No more regular employment ...at least for medical doctors... And payment for only days served!

Casual workers do not get sick leaves. No casual leave...however urgent the reason adduced. No annual leave. And certainly, no maternity leaves!

No housing benefits. Or healthcare commitments by the employer. The employee left to attend to his health needs as he deems fit...may as well drop dead! No hazard allowance. Disabilities and deaths consequent upon service are of zero concerns to the employer.

Nil housing allowance. The employee might as well pass his nights under the bridge...if the countless Task Forces would allow!

And if the worker treks to work, that's his own cup of tea!

As these uncommon aberrations attain bizzaire permanence in Lagos State, other citizens persist in blinding their sights and blocking their ears to these horrid infirmities...

Only to expect these same doctors to "perform excellently" in this slime and grime...

And yell to no end when mistakes occur in medical duties!

Dr Tosin Akindele is a medical practitioner and public affairs analyst.