Going by this background, it is very apparent that the poor state of health care delivery in Oyo State as well as in other part of the country is not primarily due to the lack of financial capacity by Government either at the state or federal level to adequately fund public utilities but as a result of self-serving capitalist economic policies which allows for a privileged few to get fabulously rich at the expense of the vast majority, who wallow in hopeless misery.
PRESS STATEMENT
OYO STATE: THE ALLEGED RAPE OF A FEMALE STUDENT BY A SOLDIER ATTACHED TO “OPERATION BURST” REVEALED THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE HEALTH SECTOR IN THE STATE
*An urgent need to cut down the over bloated salaries and allowances of political office holders to liberate resources for better funding of public services*
The Oyo State Chapter of Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) describes as disturbing and ridiculous the recent media report of how a medical officer in Eruwa General Hospital could not carry out a verification test on a female student who was allegedly raped by a soldier attached to "Operation Burst", owing to lack of basic medical facilities in the hospital. This, which is a manifestation of the deplorable state of health sector in the state also questions the veracity of the so-called success stories of Senator Abiola-led government in the health sector.
It will be recalled that on the Friday, 29th August, 2014, a soldier attached to a repressive military outfit specially created by the Senator Ajimobi-led Government under the pretence of curbing crime reportedly raped an ND II female student of the polytechnic of Ibarapa. The report also had that the lady was eventually taken to Eruwa General Hospital by men of Nigerian Police force for appropriate tests to verify her claim of being raped.
At the hospital, it was also reported that, Dr. Jesim Gambo, the medical officer on duty, lamented that the hospital did not have basic facilities not even glove and cotton wool to carry out the required test. In lieu of this, Gambo, with the aid of the light on his phone reportedly examined the victim, through which he came-up with a report which he described inconclusive.
This kind of egregious decay and gloomy picture in one of the leading state-owned hospital in Oyo State, apparently did not only question the veracity of the so called Senator Abiola Ajimobi outstanding achievement in health sector but also reflect the chronic state of underfunding and neglect under which social services like health service delivery; education etc., groan in the state since the inception of civil rule.
It is so disheartening to note that despite the improvement in the Oyo State revenue allocation in the recent years, the budgetary allocation on health service delivery as well as other social services has been suffering a decline.
Take for instance, in the 2014 appropriation bill presented by Senator Abiola Ajimobi to the state assembly for approval on the Thursday, 19th December, 2014 a paltry sum of N25.6 billion which represent just 13.5% of the total budget of N188.9billion was allocated to fund social services which include health, education, and housing among others. While in the same budget, a huge sum of N96.041 billion representing 50.9% was earmarked for the recurrent expenditure which in comparison to workers’ salaries is largely constituted by the unjustified jumbo salaries and allowances of a handful of political office holders who are less than 1% of the Oyo State est. population of 19 million people.
Going by this background, it is very apparent that the poor state of health care delivery in Oyo State as well as in other part of the country is not primarily due to the lack of financial capacity by Government either at the state or federal level to adequately fund public utilities but as a result of self-serving capitalist economic policies which allows for a privileged few to get fabulously rich at the expense of the vast majority, who wallow in hopeless misery. This remains the ideological hallmark of Nigerian governments at all levels regardless of political parties.
Therefore, towards reversing the gloomy picture in the health sector as well as in other sectors of the economy, SPN demands for urgent need to cut-down the salaries and allowance of all political office holders across the political parties to the wages of an average civil servant. This proposal will help to liberate more resources to be invested in public utilities.
Knowing fully well that this is only possible under a socialist government which requires the commanding heights of the economy to be nationalized and placed under a democratic control and management of the working masses, SPN is absolutely committed to the task of Socialist Transformation of the Nigeria Economy.
We also demand that soldiers should be withdrawn from the streets and all civilian-populated arrears and for a well-funded community policing to be put in place to fight crime. Community policing should be under the democratic control of communities, working class organisations etc., to allow for transparent and effective policing.
Bamigboye Abiodun (Abbey Trotsky)
Oyo State Secretary, Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN)
08033914091