Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU), has threatened to occupy the Presidential Villa over the reinstatement of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, Angela Uwakwem, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegation of corruption.
The workers, during a rally in Abuja in support of the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari, said the reinstatement of Dr Uwakwem contradicts the Public Service Rules provisions in section 030404, 030406, 030409 and 030411 which provide for the suspension of an accused public officers until cleared by judicial panel or court of competent jurisdiction.
According to a letter addressed to President Buhari, the workers alleged that re-instatement of the suspended medical director, was an attempt to provide her with an opportunity to distort and destroy evidence, especially unmovable ones that would be used against her in court.
JOHESU further alleged that the Ministry of Health and that of Labour were shielding Dr Uwakwem, claiming she is under the explicit protection of the presidency.
The letter which was signed by the national chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Biobelemoye Josieh and the national secretary, Florence Ekpebor, and copied the Inspector General of Police, chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), also warned against glaring case of double standard and impunity.
“We watched with keen interest at unfolding events in the Federal Ministry of Health’s handling of some matters, especially as it affects the conduct of her officers in sensitive areas, and wish to observe that their acts are not in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s posture on corruption and his efforts to stamp out same in our public milieu.
“As a group sufferer of this suffocating sleaze at the Federal Medical Centre, 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 with double standard and that whistle blowers stand the high risk of abandonment.”
“We, therefore, call 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 the EFCC in arraigning Dr Angela Uwakwem and call them to pursue the case with vigour in the interest of the common man who ultimately bears the burden of these negative acts,” the letter read.
The letter was also copied the Director-General of Department of State Service (DSS) as well as chairman, House Committee on Health.