The federal government has shut down the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo state, over workers indiscipline and rounds of protests from union members who have insisted that the medical director, Dr Angela Uwakwem must be removed for false allegations levelled against her. It is also set to do a staff audit of 2,500 employees of the centre so as to ensure proper restoration of services that have been disrupted. This was announced yesterday, by the minister of health, Prof Isaac Adewale at a press briefing in Abuja.”He said this action as well as the recall of the medical director sparked off another round of protests from the unions who insisted she must go, hinging their demand on a minority report submitted by the union members of the committee which had earlier indicted her.
“I wish to state that the federal ministry of health is left with no other option than to temporarily shut down the federal medical centre, Owerri to allow government to reorganise, restrategise and redefine the rules of engagement. An interim administration will be put in place to oversee the affairs of the institution and do a staff audit to ensure proper restoration of services.” “The Federal Medical Centre, Owerri must work to deliver healthcare services to the Nigerian people because that is the mandate for which the federal government is maintaining over 2,500 people employed in this centre with the available meagre resources inclusive of tax payers’ money.”
It will be recalled that the fact-finding committee that investigated the allegations against the medical director had since submitted its report and had exonerated her of the allegations and the contents of the report was brought to the public domain.
Source: Leadership Online
