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Why we dragged NAUTH to FCC, by S’East group

By Leo Sobechi
17 May 2021   |   4:08 am
South East All Progressives Congress Professionals (SAPCP) has said it approached the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Abuja, to protest the continued breach of the Federal Character principle...

South East All Progressives Congress Professionals (SAPCP) has said it approached the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Abuja, to protest the continued breach of the Federal Character principle in the appointment of Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Anambra State.

The group said it planned to put other relevant government agencies on notice to force NAUTH to retrace its step in the plan to appoint another CMD of the hospital.

According to SAPCP Chairman, Favour Nnamdi, and secretary, Dr. Emeka Aliona, the group had earlier petitioned the NAUTH board over the continued appointment of Anambra indigenes as CMD from inception of the teaching hospital without regard to the FC principle.

They said: “In our petition, we appealed to the management board to redress the imbalance in the appointment of CMDs, especially now that a new process is on to get another CMD, because already, 10 applicants, including the incumbent CMD, Dr. Joseph Ugboaja, have been shortlisted for interview for the appointment of a new CMD.”

Citing the need to abide by the FC principle, the group regretted that five applicants from Anambra were queuing up once again to succeed Ugboaja after many years on the position.

The group told The Guardian: “We are ready to take legal action to enforce relevant laws that support the Federal Character principles. Since inception of NAUTH, all the CMDs have come from Anambra.

“Nothing justifies applicants from Anambra to continue to occupy the office of CMD of NAUTH, Nnewi, repeatedly, excluding competent and qualified applicants from other states.

“We, therefore, urge the board to recommend and appoint a qualified and competent CMD from any other state from among those that have applied, and that applicants from Anambra be disqualified from further participation in the coming interview/screening for appointment as CMD of NAUTH, Nnewi.”

The professionals expressed dismay that NAUTH had continued to breach the FC principles enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, by the continuous appointment of Anambra indigenes as CMD of NAUTH.

Recalling that the FC principle had thrown up Anambra indigenes as CMDs of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu; Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital (AETH), Abakaliki; and National Orthopaedic Hospital (NOH), Enugu repeatedly.

“Consequently, we vehemently oppose the appointment of another CMD from Anambra, resulting from the ongoing screening/interview for a new CMD for NAUTH, Nnewi,” the group stated.

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