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NDDC: Beyond Annual Ritual Of Free Healthcare Outreaches
According to the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Nelson Brambaifa, the interventionist agency is poised to conduct soon, its 2019 free healthcare outreach for Niger Delta communities. This disclosure came during a courtesy visit to his office by the Vice Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Ebbi Robinson. In a statement made available to journalists and signed by Nancy Ijaopo, a media aide to the NDDC MD, the agency also intends to renovate and equip some cottage hospitals across the nine mandate states under its statutory purview. The envisaged free healthcare exercise is a continuation of an annual ritual by the commission since 2004 and comprises a one-week intensive delivery of free healthcare services to as many patients that can be mobilised to a location. Apparently, the locations for launching the exercise vary from year to year. By the commission’s claim, the free healthcare exercise has benefitted over two million people in the oil rich zone since its inception in 2004.
In its contemporary setting, a free health care programme enjoys significant merit within any benefitting community as it provides them with waivers of whole or portions of patient payable fees for medical treatment. For the Niger Delta area and even across the entire country, the waiving of medical fees provides invaluable relief to beneficiaries, by reducing the financial burdens many of them face in sourcing money for medical treatment. In any cases even when the money may be available, the facilities for medical service delivery are far and not immediately accessible, thereby leaving patients in a quandary.
In another vein, budgetary considerations have been cited as restricting the free healthcare service in variety and scope. Hence, for instance, the NDDC exercise lasts for just a week in each particular year, and the range of services is similarly limited, making the entire free healthcare service a largely salutary measure when compared to the humongous scope of healthcare challenges of the Niger Delta region. Among the typical challenges of the zone is the difficult terrain which prevents easy movement of the sick from home to hospital. Added to this is its serial neglect by past administrations at the federal level with the attendant result of denial of critical infrastructure including hospitals in the zone.
It was to improve on the situation that the commission since 2010 planned to establish world class medical facility in the region in collaboration with foreign interests. Nine years since that initiative was born, it is yet to see the light of day, leaving the current leadership the opportunity to write their names in history by changing the project’s history. Hence, while the 2019 free healthcare exercise may engage the sights of the NDDC leadership for now, nothing precludes them from giving life and flesh to the proposed worldclass healthcare institution. Among the reasons for fast-tracking the establishment of the envisaged world-class healthcare facility, is the need to reverse the narrative that the annual free healthcare service is the flagship of the commission’s health management agenda for the region.
In its operational blueprint and budgetary proposals, the commission promotes a robust agenda for healthcare management which spans the entire gamut of areas needy of intervention. Regrettably, however, the story of project management by the NDDC especially before the advent of the present management, has not been without multiplicity of instances of less than optimal discretion, with the attendant consequence that several projects of strategic significance suffer avoidable compromise and even outright truncations. This syndrome in the operations of the commission reportedly reached its apogee from June 2015 when crass politicisation of its leadership became an unbridled affair. It is therefore not unlikely that several projects including the envisaged world-class healthcare facility, may have ended up as mere still births.
However, with the sterling antecedents in the demanding academic terrain of the current Managing Director of NDDC, Professor Nelson Brambrainfa as a world acclaimed pharmacist, the game changing prospects of the expected healthcare facility cannot be lost on him. While the commission remains justified in paying attention to cottage hospitals which are invaluable to the grassroot communities, it is also time to look beyond baseline targets.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.
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