The Nigeria Labour Congress has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the recommendation of the Board of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, which seeks to probe allegations of corruption levelled against the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Angela Uwakwem.
The congress urged the president to wade in to put an end to the industrial conflict in the hospital.
Health workers in the centre have been on strike for over six weeks over alleged highhandedness by the management and the proposed public private partnership in the medical centre.
In a letter signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and addressed to President Buhari on Friday, the organised labour accused the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, of refusing to bring the president’s attention, the management board’s resolution.
According to the union, the board recommended a compulsory leave for the medical director and other top management officials of the hospital so as to pave the way for a thorough investigation into the matter.
It said, “You might wish to know that a prima facie case of gross financial misconduct and embezzlement has already been established against the medical director. This was by way of an illegal transfer of personnel costs meant to pay staff promotion arrears for 2013 and 2014, the siphoning of funds meant for the running of the centre through channels of a questionable privatisation process of some sections and services rendered by the hospital.
“It was on the strength of the prima facie case established by the board that the FMC Owerri board halted the privatisation process and passed a resolution that the medical director and indicted members of the management committee should proceed on compulsory leave to enable full investigation to take place as prescribed by law and the public service rules”.
