REQUEST FOR JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY IN THE APPOINTMENT OF MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE,OWERRI.
Presently the Federal Medical Centre Owerri has (60) Medical Consultants.
• 2002: The first medical Director, Dr A.B. Chukwuezi, retired.
• 2003: Dr Mrs Angela Uwakwem was handpicked as Acting Medical Director, despite being the most junior of the Consultants at that time. There were protests.
• 2005: Dr Mrs Angela Uwakwem was handpicked without any criteria as Acting Medical Director. Majority of Consultants, both junior and senior, were dissatisfied.
• 2007-2009: Dr Mrs Angela Uwakwem was handpicked for the third (3rd) time, even though there were 10 more qualified senior Consultants who were interested in the post. There were also protests and this caused a lot of disharmony.
• 2009-2013: Dr Mrs Uwakwem was confirmed as Medical Director in 2009, thus serving as Medical Director for the fourth (4th) time.
• If Dr Mrs Uwakwem is reappointed for another tenure of 4 years, after acting for a total of Dr Mrs Uwakwem over 4 years, and serving a full 4 years; she would have held the post for a record 12 years plus.
• There are many Consultants who are her senior and more eligible that want to be given a chance to serve.
• She could be technically qualified, but her reappointment would bring about a lot of disenchantment and loss of confidence in the Institution and the Civil Service. This would further deepen the already existing gully in the work place.