News

Ministerial appointment: Healthcare professionals speak on marginalization

Published

7 years ago

June 27, 2019

Eric

The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has expressed displeasure over the continuous appointment of medical practitioners as minister of health.

This is also as the group kicked against the appointment of same medical practitioners as Chief Medical Directors of hospitals.

This formed part of a communique issued by the NUAHP after its quadrennial national conference, held in Keffi, Nassarawa State.

The Communique was signed by the National President of the group, Comrade Dr. Ogbonna O.C. and the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ohaekweiro Edwin.

They also “strongly condemned the increased speed of kidnapping and unprovoked attacks by the Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram and bandits in the country.”

The communique read in part:

“Delegates wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and all others who were successful in the general elections and wish them successful tenure in the office while we also appreciate those contestants who could not make it at the polls for accepting the outcome of the elections with the spirit of good sportsmanship.

“Delegates applauded the Federal Government for the approval of the new minimum wage but decried the fact that it was yet to be implemented in the nation; so, government should ensure its immediate implementation and it should cut across both federal and state employed.

“Delegates urged the Federal Government through the office of the SGF to expedite action on the payment of our members withheld April and May, 2018 salaries and all other withheld salaries.

“Delegates observed with utmost dismay the abnormalities in the payment of the 2017/2018 promotion arrears. We urge the office of the accountant general to correct these abnormalities.”

On the proposed health sector reform, they said “it should not be characterized by direct or indirect privatization of existing Federal Government facilities as this will only take the health sector from frying pan to fire by taking affordable healthcare away from the reach of an average Nigerian. This will also have adverse effects on teaching and research which are part of the major purposes a teaching hospitals service.

“The Government should ensure that all relevant stakeholders are carried along at every stage of the reform in order for the exercise to yield the expected result.

“The delegates observed with dismay, the disobedience of the Federal Ministry of Health to court judgements. It is appalling and disheartening to note that various court judgements in the union’s favour and that of her composite professional associations from courts of competent jurisdiction have been flagrantly disobeyed with impunity by the Honourable Minister of Health and the entire Federal Ministry of Health.

“We can readily count over fifteen (15) court judgements in favour of the Medical Laboratory Scientists that are yet to be implemented by the Government. We, therefore, request our dear president, President Muhammadu Buhari and the authorities concerned to order the FMOH to implement these judgments without any further delay in order to foster peace in the health sector.

“It is no more news that there is discrimination, marginalization, oppression and suppression of other healthcare professionals by the medical practitioners in the health sector. To worsen the situation, the Government through the sitting president usually appoint both the minister of health and the minister of state for health from among the medical practitioners while no consideration is given to other healthcare professionals who are active players in the health team.

“The delegates, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to please ensure that one of the two ministers be appointed from among the various other professionals that make up the health team in order for us to have an all-encompassing ministry which will give every player a sense of belonging. We hereby appeal that this request be given due

consideration as the president is set to appoint new ministers into various ministries including our dear ministry of health.

“Appointment of Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Teaching Hospitals / Federal Medical Centres: The decree 10 of 1985 now known as CAP 463 LFN 2004 section 5, subsection 2 which reads in part “the Chief Medical Director shall be a person who is medically qualified and registered as such for a period not less than twelve (12) years, has had considerable administrative experience in matters of health and hold post graduate medical qualification obtained not less than five (5) years prior to the appointment as Chief Medical Director”.

“However, this law has been misinterpreted by the Federal Ministry of Health to mean that the post of Chief Executive Officer of Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres are exclusively meant for medical practitioners only. We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure strict adherence to the true interpretation of the law whenever any vacant post of Chief Executive Officer of a Teaching Hospital or Federal Medical Centre is to be filled.”

The climax of the conference was the election of new officers for the union.

They include: Com. Dr. Obinna Chimela Ogbonna – President, Com. Mohammed Yandutse – Deputy President North, Com. PT. Dr. Sotiloye Olusegun. V – Deputy President South, Com. Ibrahim Kamar – Treasurer, Com. Aja Kelechi Chima – Financial Secretary, Com. Edwin Ohaekweiro – Public Relations Officer, Com. Bar. Happiness Ojiyi – Internal Auditor, Com. Josephine Kpalap – Women Leader and Com. Faniran Felix Olukayode – Immediate Past President.

News

Court Grants Malami N200m Bail in DSS Terrorism, Firearm Charges

Published

17 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

Justice Joyce Abdulmalikof the Federal High Court Abujahas admitted a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son Abdulazizto N200 million bail in the charges bordering on alleged terrorism and illegal firearms possession brought against them by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Malami and his son were, however, ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions imposed on them by the Court.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted them bail while ruling on their bail applications, which were argued by their lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

The judge ordered the former AGF and his son to get two sureties each, one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, along with valid international passports.

The sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of the trial.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, Malami was accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

News

Fubara Appoints New SSG, Chief of Staff

Published

2 days ago

February 26, 2026

Eric

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and Barrister Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff, after the recent shake-up of the State’s political and administrative structure.

The appointments were announced on Thursday in a Special Government Notice signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, and made available to journalists. Both appointments take immediate effect.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor appointed Dr Dagogo Wokoma as Secretary to the State Government and Mr. Sunny Ewule as Chief of Staff.

The statement said the appointments take immediate effect, adding that the new appointees would be sworn in at 2:00 p.m. at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The development comes amid the protracted political crisis in the State, which recently escalated into impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, by the State House of Assembly. The crisis was eventually diffused following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, had last week announced during plenary that the Assembly formally withdrew the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy after the President’s intervention.

Political observers suggest that the dissolution of the cabinet may be part of efforts to rebalance the power structure in the following the peace accord. However, it remains unclear whether the new appointees are aligned with the governor or loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The statement read in part: “The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has appointed Dr. Dagogo S.A. Wokoma as the Secretary to the State Government and Barrister Sunny Ewule as the Chief of Staff.

“Both appointments are with immediate effect. The new appointees will be sworn in at 2:00 pm.today, Thursday, February 26, 2026. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

News

Court Strikes Out Forgery Case Against Ozekhome As FG Withdraws Charges

Published

4 days ago

February 24, 2026

Eric

The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the forgery charge filed against senior lawyer Mike Ozekhome, bringing an abrupt pause to a case that had drawn public attention.

The charge was originally instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
It followed a judgment delivered by a London court over a property linked to the late former FCT minister, Jeremiah Useni.

In January, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation took over the matter from the ICPC for what it described as effective prosecution.

However, proceedings took a new turn on Tuesday at the FCT High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed Peter Kekemeke that the Federal Government was withdrawing the case file for “further instruction”.

He explained that the decision was taken in line with the provisions of Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Counsel to the defence, Paul Erokoro, SAN, told the court that his team had no objection to the withdrawal of the charge.

In a brief ruling, Justice Kekemeke held that since the application was not opposed, it was granted.

He consequently struck out the charge and ordered that the case be dismissed.

The withdrawal effectively halts legal action against Ozekhome over the alleged forgery linked to the disputed property transaction.