The Senior Staff Associations of University Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) have staged a protest against the acting Chief Medical Director, CMD , of Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital Calabar, Dr Theo Osim.
The protesters who carried various placards within the hospital premises with different messages accused Dr. Osim of flouting the ministry’s directive on the appointment of a substantive CMD, including victimisation, high-handedness, and harassment of staff.
They noted that Osim has acted as CMD since March 2024, but has deliberately, on several occasions, flouted the directive to advertise for the same position, including recent directive dated 14th May 2025.
Sector chairman of SSAUTHRIAI, ComKen Bassey said, “The letter, which was signed on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, by Dr Jimoh Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services, gave the CMD six weeks to place the advert.
“As we speak, he has not acted on that directive just the same way he had always acted as if he is bigger than the ministry.
“We have been victimised, harassed, suppressed, and intimidated by the same man for daring to speak out for the right thing to be done in this hospital.
“Not only are our members issued queries arbitrarily, but we have also been sent to jail, suspended, and our salaries stopped without due process.
“We have been very peaceful, law-abiding, but today, we are saying enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate this executive rascality,” he stated.
Denying allegations of high-handedness, Dr. Osim said he hadvalways acted based on the provisions of the law.
He denied ever flouting directive of the Ministry of Health to advertise for the appointment of a substantive CMD.
“It is not true that I refused to advertise. In fact, this matter is before the Permanent Secretary of the federal Ministry of Health. Everything has processes, and I am following due process.
Julian Obasi, Calabar
