For staying out of office for more than 42 days within 12 calendar months on health grounds, President Umaru Yar’Adua is believed to have violated a section of the Federal Government Public Service Rules. According to Paragraph 070316, Chapter Seven of the Federal Government Public Service Rules 2006, any officer on sick leave for more than 42 days within 12 months must face a medical board to ascertain his physical suitability to remain in office. Prominent Nigerians qualified to be members of the medical board that could determine the President‘s suitability for office may include the following:

Dr. Salisu Banye,

Yar’Adua’s personal physician. The Katsina State-born consultant came to the limelight recently when he disclosed that the president was suffering from acute pericarditis. Banye was born and raised in Katsina, where he has been practising medicine for more than 25 years.

Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, a neurologist and former university vice-chancellor. Akinkugbe, at different times, attended the Government College, Ibadan, Oyo State, University College, Ibadan, now University of Ibadan, University of Liverpool, London and University of Oxford, England. He began his career at the Department of Medicine, UI, between 1964 and 1974, where he rose to the position of head of department. He was visiting professor of medicine, Harvard University, United States of America, 1974 to 1975 and visiting Fellow, Balliol College, Oxford, 1981 to 1982 and VC, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, between 1977 and 1978.

Prof. Ayodele Falase, a consultant cardiologist is another expert of repute that could serve on the medical board.

Falase began his career as a House Officer at the University College Hospital, Ibadan and later became Head of Department, Department of Medicine, UI, Oyo State, between 2001 and 2005. He also served as Chairman, Committee of Deans, at the institution.

Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, Minister of Health, a pathologist, was once a Chief Medical Director at the University College, Ibadan and a former Director-General, National Action Committee on Aids.

Prof. Jibril Aminu, a cardiologist of repute who was once a federal minister. Aminu received many prizes as a medical student, including the best commonwealth student award in the United Kingdom.

He was at the Middle School, Yola, Adamawa State, 1950 to 1951, Barewa College, Zaria, Kaduna State, 1952 to 1957 and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1960 to 1965. The gifted medical student later proceeded to the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London, UK, 1967 to 1968 and the Royal Post-Graduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London and later, the National Heart Hospital and the London Hospital College, London, 1969 to 1972.

Dr. Ebun Ladipo Bamgboye, a Consultant Physician/Nephrologist and currently Head, Dialysis/Transplant Unit of St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos.

Prof. David Adewale Oke, consultant cardiologist and head, Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.

Prof. Remi Ajekigbe, consultant radiotherapist and oncologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Prof. Francis Durosimi-Etti, a consultant radiotherapist and oncologist, and a former Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja.

mbulela:



For staying out of office for more than 42 days within 12 calendar months on health grounds, President Umaru Yar’Adua is believed to have violated a section of the Federal Government Public Service Rules. According to Paragraph 070316, Chapter Seven of the Federal Government Public Service Rules 2006, any officer on sick leave for more than 42 days within 12 months must face a medical board to ascertain his physical suitability to remain in office.

Would that be 42 consecutive days, Or just 42 days of absence in a 12 month calendar?