By Francesca Hangeior

The management of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Taraba State, has dismissed recent media reports alleging a severe drug shortage at the hospital.

In a statement signed on Tuesday by Haruna Abubakar of the hospital’s Press and Protocol Department, the FMC management reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the availability of drugs and the delivery of quality healthcare services.

Abubakar acknowledged that while the hospital has faced some supply chain challenges, the situation was not as dire as portrayed in certain media reports.

“When this administration took over nearly five years ago, we inherited a significant debt related to drug supplies. Since then, we have remained proactive in settling outstanding payments to ensure uninterrupted drug availability for our patients.

“Our budget has been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Finance, and we anticipate a resolution to these challenges by the end of March 2025,” the statement read.

The hospital management also reassured the public of its strong working relationship with pharmaceutical vendors, despite alleged attempts to undermine its efforts.

It added that the hospital is actively engaging with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve access to medications for enrollees.

“We are fully operational, with essential medications available. We urge members of the public, journalists, and stakeholders to visit the hospital’s pharmacy and wards, including the Accident and Emergency unit, to independently verify the facts,” the statement added.

While noting that no hospital globally can guarantee the availability of all drugs at all times, the management assured patients that necessary medications are stocked.

Where certain drugs are unavailable, patients are advised to source them externally, which it described as a standard practice worldwide.

“FMC Jalingo is not in the business of providing free drugs but remains committed to ensuring affordable and accessible medications for all patients.

“NHIS enrollees continue to receive prescribed drugs within the coverage framework, and we take pride in maintaining the highest standards of medical service delivery,” it stated.

The hospital management urged the public to be wary of sensationalised reports that do not reflect the true situation at FMC Jalingo, stressing that its top priority remains the well-being of patients.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to compel the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against him over alleged rights violations.

The suit, filed by a legal practitioner, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, alleged that President Tinubu’s administration had suppressed peaceful protests, which amounts to an impeachable offense.

However, President Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, have challenged the suit, questioning the plaintiff’s legal right to institute the action. They argued that the plaintiff failed to disclose any reasonable cause of action and that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter.

In a joint preliminary objection, the defendants listed 18 reasons why the case should be terminated. They claimed that the plaintiff filed the action on behalf of “faceless citizens” without disclosing the persons whose rights were allegedly violated.

According to the defendants, only the person whose right was breached has the right to file an action before the court to seek redress, as provided by Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution.

The defendants also argued that the plaintiff’s questions for determination were based on an alleged breach of the 1999 Constitution by President Tinubu, but failed to disclose any of his rights that were breached.

In a counter affidavit, a principal state counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Gbemga Oladimeji, averred that President Tinubu’s administration has been a promoter of democratic tenets, allowing people to air their grievances and conduct peaceful protests.

“I know for a fact that the protest conducted between 1st August 2024 and 10th August 2024 was peaceful, as there was a court order limiting the protesters to demonstrate within a confined location,” he said.

Justice James Omotosho has adjourned the case till March 4 to enable the counsel representing the plaintiff to respond to the preliminary objection by President Tinubu and the AGF.