By Mustapha Aleem
The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ibrahim Wabba, has taken exception to the recent drama that played out at the Owerri Federal Medical Center, involving the Medical Director, Dr Angela Nwakwan.
The workers at the Medical center had alleged the Medical Director of some financial misconduct and high handedness, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission carried out an investigation into the issue.
They also alleged that the EFCC, after their investigation, pointed out that the under-fire Medic was culpable for the allegations levelled against her. The unions at the center in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, which comprised the investigating panel therefore, asked Dr Nwakwan to proceed on an indefinite leave.
It was subsequently learnt that her leave was shortened due to some interests, which ensured the reinstatement of the Medical Director against the recommendation of the investigating panel.
The NLC chairman at the 6th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives on Tuesday, in Osogbo, called on the President to investigate those who were behind the reinstatement of Dr Nwakwan as an assurance that his fight against corruption is not lopsided.
Wabba alleged that the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole was responsible for the letter detailing the reinstatement of the medic, saying the workers at the center were already protesting the development.
According to him, “I made a point about the fight against corruption; of recent, we reported a case of the medical director, Federal Medical Center, Owerri, who was investigated thoroughly and charged to court by the EFCC on the 11th of this month, but due to some certain interest, there was an effort to bring her back to office.
“She was reinstated and escorted to office by security agencies. We thought that we must base the fight against corruption on the rule of law and also on the fact that whoever is found wanting should not receive any cover or any form of protection from any quarter.
“I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the issue in order to uncover those who brought her back. She was found culpable and the case have been established and by the provision of public service rule, she is supposed to be on suspension until the issue is determined by the court of law. She is under the Public Service Rule and why should we undermine such process.
“As I speak with you, workers are already protesting over there and we are supporting them by taking the protest to the minister of health, who then issued a statement of her reinstatement.”
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