By Williams ABAH
The Governing Board of the National Hospital, Abuja, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the crisis rocking the hospital over the appointment of a new Chief Medical Director, CMD.
In a letter titled, ‘Appointment of Chief Medical Director/CEO for National Hospital, Abuja,’ the board accused the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, of interference and delaying the appointment of a substantive CMD for the hospital.
The letter dated March 10, 2023, maintained that the appointment of CMD is the exclusive preserve of the Governing Board as enshrined in the Act establishing the National Hospital Abuja Act 36 of 1999.
According to the letter signed by the chairman of the Governing Board of the hospital, Patricia Etteh, the procedure for the appointment of the CMD started as soon as the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, approved the board to commence the process, and advertisements were placed in two national dailies between March 8, 2022, and April 19, 2022, while the candidates were shortlisted on May 9, 2022.
She, however, said that five months after, efforts to get a new CMD had been delayed.
In her words, “After about three reminder letters to commence the process, the Governing Board had to wait for a period of about six months after the placement of advertisement and the shortlisting of candidates before the final approval was given to commence the written and oral interview process.
“Criteria for screening/short-listing of candidates were adopted as presented by the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health.
“Please also note that the date of the interview was shifted twice by the Federal Ministry of Health and this was communicated to the shortlisted candidates.”
Etteh also noted that a technical committee was set up, candidates underwent the interview process and three candidates scored the highest out of the seven who participated in the oral interview.
She further stated that the recommendation was cancelled by the health minister.
“The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, however, cancelled the exercise which was conveyed to the Governing Board through a letter of 11th November 2022, Ref No: HMH/ABJ/529/2/1 on the grounds of a petition received from a candidate who was earlier barred from participating for not indicating her state of origin or presenting a certificate of indigeneship.
“After a very careful and exhaustive deliberation by the Board on the cancellation, it was observed that the minister did not draw the attention of the Board to the petitions nor was the Board given the benefit of fair hearing in line with the principle of natural justice.”
It was gathered that the earlier shortlisted candidates that were barred from the exercise was based on non-provision of relevant documents, particularly certificate of fitness, and were allowed to participate by the minister, while all candidates were given another opportunity to re-present all relevant documents to participate in the final screening.
According to Etteh, two candidates were barred on the grounds that one of them did not indicate her state of origin in her CV or application which is required of every application in Nigeria.
She added that the second candidate was barred because he did not present his Certificate of Registration of Additional Qualification with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“The Board sought the opinion of the representative of the Federal Character Commission on a candidate that did not indicate her state of origin or present her Certificate of Indigeneship whether the candidate can participate or not; his answer was no, because under the law, the principle of Federal Character is very germane to this kind of recruitment. That is why the commission is represented in the panel.”
She said a substantive CMD has not been appointed for the hospital due to the aspersion cast by the Minister of Health on the exercise conducted by a panel that was single-handedly constituted by the minister, and chaired by his permanent secretary.
“This is regardless of the fact that the appointment of Chief Medical Director is the exclusive preserve of the Governing Board as enshrined in the Act establishing the National Hospital Abuja Act 36 of 1999.
The Governing Board nevertheless accepted the outcome of the interview which was adjudged to be free, fair and transparent.”
Etteh also said the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has also received a petition by a Non-Governmental Organisation alleging the involvement of the Minister, to have violated the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the recruitment of a Chief Medical Director for the National Hospital Abuja by unilaterally cancelling the exercise based on the flimsy excuse of exclusion of a candidate who did not present required and relevant document required by the panel.