NAUS Demands Justice Over Alleged Unqualified Appointment of New Chief Medical Director In Enugu

The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has released a statement regarding an alleged case of administrative impunity and corruption concerning the appointment of the new Chief Medical Director at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in New Heaven Enugu. 

In a press statement received by our correspondent claimed that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Dr. Tunji Alausa, appointed a candidate who failed the qualification exam, Dr. Ngozichukwu Unaogu, instead of the candidate who passed, Dr. Andrew Orovwigbo.

NAUS, Deputy National President, Comrade Meshach Anthony Nwankwo urged the new Minister of Health and Social Welfare to look into the matter as a matter of ugency and demand accountability from the Secretary-General of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. 

The statement reads in parts "It has been brought to the notice of the leadership of National Association of University Students (NAUS), that an act of administrative impunity and corruption has been allegedly perpetrated by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Dr. Tunji Alausa (now Hon. Minister of Education) over the appointment of the new Chief Medical Director Neuropsychiatric Hospital, New Heaven Enugu. Several Civil Society Organizations had cried out for justice to prevail but all to no avail; prompting us to intervene especially as members of our constituency are involved.

The former Health Minister was allegedly embroiled in an administrative scandal, for a female candidate who failed the interview for the position of Enugu Hospital Director.

We discovered that a contentious incidence happened at the Ministry of Health yesterday, where someone who failed to pass the qualification exam for the position of Chief Medical Director in the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu was appointed to occupy the office, as against the person who passed. Dr. Ngozichukwu Unaogu, despite not meeting up with the minimum required score was appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, New Heaven, Enugu.

Meanwhile, Dr. Andrew Orovwigbo, who passed the interview, is illegally being denied the merited position. The interview was conducted on July 11, 2024, by a panel of eight members, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Daju Kachollom.

It is alleged that the examination questions were crafted by Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, a distinguished expert in the field, who is the former Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi and Chairman of the Faculty of Psychiatry at the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Dr. Ibrahim currently serves as the Chief Examiner of the college.

That the minister allegedly appointed a candidate who is not qualified is creating a more tense atmosphere among hospital staff, stakeholders and the hospital environment as this is the highest level of impunity. We are going resist this impunity using all the instruments of Civil disobedience if this issue not addressed immediately.

The panel that conducted the examination comprised representatives from various bodies, including the Federal Character Commission’s Hon. Rev. Ukadike Ibeabuchi, and directors from the ministry, namely Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, Tetshoma T. Dafeta, Dr. Aderemi Azeez, Dr. Obiajulu Ugbo, Rasimatu U. Bello, and Igwenagu Ndidi Catherine, PhD.

Notably, all panel members signed the result sheet, which revealed that Dr. Orovwigbo achieved a score of 65.3%, while Dr. Unaogu scored 59.2%.

Following the interview, we have it on record that both candidates signed attestations confirming that the process was transparent, fair, and free from manipulation.

Meanwhile, various health organisations within the Neuropsychiatric Hospital have collectively denounced the then Minister of State’s authoritarian actions, emphasising the need to safeguard the directorship position from partisan politics to ensure the country’s progress. If such a tedious, time and resources consuming screening process was carried out, why was the due process not followed? We have the mandate of over 40 million Nigerian University Students crying out with one voice that this aberration be corrected and justice be served as a matter of urgency. We have students as Interns, doing Industrial Training and even schooling there thus their interests have to be factored in. 

While we congratulate the new Minister of Health and Social Welfare, we urge him to look into this oddity as a matter of urgency and in the same breathe demand accountability from the Secretary-General of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. The leadership of NAUS will be engaging the Ministry actively to ensure that no stone is left unturned in addressing this issue as justice delayed is justice denied.