The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (AHCP) yesterday petitioned the Presidency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Police and others over the decision of the Federal Ministry of Health to reinstate Medical Director of the Owerri Medical Centre (FMC), Dr. Angela Uwakwem.

The health workers who laid siege at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja chanting solidarity songs, carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Mr. President Rescue FMC Owerri’ ‘Corruption is Killing the Health Sector’ ‘ Corruption Kills, Avoid It’ ‘Reinstatement or Cover Up of Dr. Angela Uwakwem?’.



JOHESU President, Biobelemoye Josiah and National Secretary, Florence Ekpebor while addressing journalists, explained that the reinstatement of Uwakwem was against the extant rules governing the civil service.

According to Josiah, “the Federal Ministry of Health handling of the matter as it affects the conduct of officers in sensitive areas and we wish observed that their acts are in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s posture on corruption and his efforts to stamp out same in our public milieu.

“It is no longer news that FMC Owerri has been embroiled in crisis on corruption by Dr. Uwakwem. This situation led to her suspension and subsequent arraignment at Owerri State High Court II, by the EFCC on charges of corruption related matters.”

The group urged the Presidency and anti-graft agencies to go beyond arraignment and ensure that the Medical Director is stripe of her duty until she clears her name.

They accused the administration of double standard in fighting corruption in the health sector, “as a group suffering this suffocating sleaze at the FMC Owerri, therefore, we wish to place on record that we shall resist the move within the ambit of the law that is already sending signals to the general public that Mr. President’s anti-corruption war is embedded in double standard and that whistle blowers stand the high risk of abandonment.



http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/12/11/health-workers-petition-presidency-efcc-icpc-over-indicted-director/




“We therefore called on Mr. President to as a matter of urgency call the authorities of the Federal Ministry of Health to order. We wish to salute the courage of EFCC in arraigning Dr. Uwakwem and call on them to pursue the case with vigour in the interest of the common man who ultimately bears the burden of these negative acts,” JOHESU stated.

The federal government had through the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole reinstated Uwakwem following the recommendations of a committee set up to investigate the matter. Her reinstatement has continued to elicited uproar and discontent as health workers protest government decision to soft pedal on Uwakwem’s case.

What do they mean by writing to presidency, efcc
And icpc ? Are they other arms of government ?

What's happening to our health institutions enmeshed with corruption?. Can't believe it. And a lady for that matter sef. Na wa o.

I weep for Nigeria

Let's hope icpc can surprise us. Cos efcc is seriously compromised. The chief medical director of university of Benin teaching hospital cannot be a free man if efcc had not be paid

I'm forced to think that buhari must be a very big thief. To allow the kind of corruption between the chief medical directors and the Minister of health go on unabated.

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buhari sef

Ok

This is a serious development...

DrRasheed:
What do they mean by writing to presidency, efcc
And icpc ? Are they other arms of government ?

they are whistle blowers. Deal with it.

This is rather unfortunate.. Very very unfortunate on the part of the Minister of health and this "Drs. Alliance thingy" , while there are obvious and confirmed corruption acts been perpetrated daily by their comrades placed at the helm of affairs.

Good thing some people decided to voice out.

The problem with nigeria has always been ingrained and embedded tribalism, cronyism and nepotism. If she wasn't qualified for this job, then the rationale for their agitation would be established but in it's obvious they want her out because the old corrupt order is jittery that she may step on toes and make heads roll.

You guys forget that buhari is deaf abi?

JOHESU should declare 3days national warning strike , that is the only way they can attract the attention of the presidency into this issue. This godes(the medical director) is more powerful than the entire ministry of health,

The rate of corruption in this administration is mind blowing. Nigerians will collapse when they discover the kind of corruption that has taken place in this government after a new government takes over in 2019

sarcoma:
JOHESU should declare 3days national warning strike , that is the only way they can attract the attention of the presidency into this issue. This godes(the medical director) is more powerful than the entire ministry of health,

No work, no pay.

yjgm:
What's happening to our health institutions enmeshed with corruption?. Can't believe it. And a lady for that matter sef. Na wa o.

Just like that and you have concluded? even followed it up with gender attack.

It seems you lack comprehension. I haven't concluded on anything. All I did was to raise a poser. And the gender thing, am surprised it's a lady's name being bandied around. Because the female gender is an epitome of purity, integrity and trust.

Hanendez:
The problem with nigeria has always been ingrained and embedded tribalism, cronyism and nepotism. If she wasn't qualified for this job, then the rationale for their agitation would be established but in it's obvious they want her out because the old corrupt order is jittery that she may step on toes and make heads roll.

get out what do u know about this case talking nonense a woman who supervised the throwing of tear gas at protesters at FMC owerri leading to the killing of many patients and ddisability of new born babies all because she was loyal to okorocha God knows what her evil doing

The union has done the right thing by writing to the relevant agencies but they should allow the law to take its course... You don't wake up one morning and say you want the CMD removed on allegations. That will be setting bad precedence and the government won't want to empower the unions.
Similar scenario is playing out in the universities and government parastatals.
The unions should learn how to direct their energy.

ICPC and EFFC should be more effective

Maybe she had joined Apc, just like Orji Uzo Kalu
So she is now a saint all her sins have been forgiven. Back to your work madam Angela. So guys forget it that's the situation we find ourselves in

If buhari cannot see the level of corruption in the health sector ,it's either he is involved in it or he is so busy with another scam

Johesu again

Unserious people. These ones are not ready to work. They should give way to millions of youths that are deprived out there. How can you start to dictate how things are run by your employer? You are not happy with the way the one assigned by your employer to run a place does, after complaining, what are you supposed to do? Both of you are in his employ! Leave him to his bidding. This govt is about no work no pay and if you stay away from work for a specified length of time without being on leave, dismissal sure pass. How her corruption is affecting their pay and work is what I'm yet to come to terms with. All these unionism sometimes are hijacked by powers and principalities without majority knowing they are being used for pecuniary interests.