NAUTH Crisis, Group calls for Health minister’s sack

Concerned Progressive Professionals, CPP, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu over his alleged refusal to make public, the substantive Chief Medical Director of the Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State.


CPP had alleged that there was confusion over who is the authentic Chief Medical Director, CMD, of the health institution which it claimed has crippled activities at the hospital, and had called on the Health Minister to publish or allow the publication of the substantive CMD as a way of solving the problem.

The group noted that the refusal of Prof Chukwu to announce the substantive head of the teaching hospital has made the three frontliners in the context - Dr. Ogonna Oguejifori, Dr. Obi Nwosu, Dr. Anthony Igwegbe, to be laying claims to the position.

In an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, and signed by the Chairman, Barr. Bony Obunadike and Secretary, Pharm. Acada Okongwu, the group insisted that the Health Minister has “flouted with impunity the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 as amended which he swore to uphold”, and threatened to take legal action if the minister fails to do the right thing.

“President Goodluck Sir, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended made it clear that all issues of ACTING CAPACITIES in public institutions has a tenure of three (3) months unless renewed by the appropriate authorities except on the issue of the State of Emergency Proclamation which has a tenure of six (6) months and can be renewed only by the National Assembly (section 305).

“Our investigations reveal that Dr. Anthony Igwegbe resumed as acting CMD in January 2013 and should vacate office in March 2013, when the substantive CMD should resume. Health Minister Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu conducted all the due processes leading to the appointment of the substantive CMD, and based on his submission, we gathered that you duly appointed one since March 2013. The result of which is a public document and should be released to the public, published, and gazzetted, but the Health Minister has refused to do so, for reasons best known to him.

“Mr President Sir, as we speak Nnamdi Azikwe Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi has neither the acting C.M.D because Dr. Anthony Igwegbe tenure has expired, nor the substantive C.M.D because he has not resumed even though you have make the appointment. There is therefore Administrative collapse which is counter productive to your transformational Health plans.

“For the Health Minister to have allowed Dr. Anthony Igwegbe to continue in office when his tenure has expired and was never confirmed is illegal and unconstitutional. Mr. President sir, we therefore humbly call on you to sack the Health Minister – Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu who has demonstrated to be a clog in the wheel of your well- thought – out health agenda for the people for so long a time.”