The Massive MDG Fraud: How the health ministry steals from the sick and dying

Officials continue to steal funds needed for fixing dilapidated hospitals and providing drugs

In this first part of our series on the utilisation of the yearly $1billion for Millennium Development Goals' projects, we investigate the monumental corruption in the health ministry. We found that rather than help, the ministry is actually killing the country's hope of achieving the MDGs

Massive corruption in various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are the main reasons Nigeria will not achieve her Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation has revealed.

Between 2006 and 2008, MDAs such as the health ministry, water resources ministry and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) mismanaged hundreds of billions of naira meant to specifically help Nigeria achieve the MDG targets.

While public officials mismanaged the MDG funds described by a senior civil servant as “free money,” President Goodluck Jonathan sits on a report indicting these officials and their collaborating contractors.

The most culpable of these MDAs is the health ministry, which according to official government investigators “is the main impediment to achieving the MDGs related to health.”

Patience Jonathan wants presidents' wives roles included in the constitution

Patience Jonathan wants presidents' wives roles included in the constitution

Our dear first lady is canvassing for the inclusion of roles of presidents’ wives in the constitution. According to her, the inclusion would enable First Ladies get retirement benefits along with their husbands when they leave office.

What she said yesterday after she was sworn-in as Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service

We the wives of political office holders, if our names are not in the constitution and our husbands retire with benefits, the Constitution amendment committee should also look into the issue of wives of political appointees. We should be included in the Constitution so that we too can retire with benefits. With that we can enjoy our career."

Enjoy their career? OK!

It’s Strange, But We Have Fewer Than 100 Doctors In Oyo Hospitals - Commissioner

It’s Strange, But We Have Fewer Than 100 Doctors In Oyo Hospitals - Commissioner

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, a former Senior Special Assistant on Information Technology and Special Projects to former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, in a media chat, spoke on his experience, the free medical mission, the “Abiyamo Project,” among others. Adebayo Waheed was there. Excerpts:
What has been your experi-ence so far in the Ministry of Health?
We have a comprehensive policy for the health sector, but what we presently have on ground in terms of personnel, infrastructure, processes and funding are inadequate. So, we have been working very hard to create the foundation that would enable us to deliver on those campaign promises made by the governor. Specifically, he promised free health care for children under the age of five, for the elderly and pregnant women. We focus on those areas. As you know, the government is really the last refuge for the average man on the street. When we look at the health sector, we don't believe the government can provide all the health needs of the people.
There is also the private sector; they have a role to play. There are also development partners who are very active in the state. I am talking of World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF). They are actively supporting our immunization programmes and other schemes.